Gorse is the first book in the historical dark fantasy series The Eythin Legacy, written by Sam K. Horton, and published by Solaris Books. A lyrical and atmospherical story that portrays the conflict between religion and folklore, small town politics and the own fair folk, all to create a highly immersive novel.

Pelagius Hunt, the Keeper, and his foster daughter, Nancy, take care of the moors and the creatures of the Other World while also helping the people from Mirecoombe, a small rural village. However, when a series of deadly murders happen in the moors, most of the villagers, influenced by the Christian priest, Cleaver, agree that the cause is the belief of many people in the Other People; spoiled by Cleaver, they decide to prove their Christianity by purifying the moor with fire.
This action not only affects the Other People, but also puts the delicate equilibrium maintained by the Keeper in doubt, threatening the own survival of Morecoombe. Our two characters will have to find the truth behind the murders and restore the deal with the creatures of the moor, even traveling to the Other World for it.

A novel that draws into the mentor-student relationship between Pelagius and Nancy: the old and grumpy Keeper and the young and powerful Nancy; Pelagius took some decisions in the past that are coming back to bite his hand. However, when the danger arises for the moor, we will see a Pelagius that will risk himself to restore the difficult peace of the place, even if the village is now rejecting him. In comparison, Nancy's arc is one more centered about self-discovery and trust, about getting the hang of her power and finally become part of the village as an outside.
As the main antagonist, Cleaver is an interesting character. He had a friendship with Pelagius in the past, but after a traumatic event, he became more fanatical, and broke the ties with his friend. You can see there's still a bit of fondness from Pelagius to his old friend; but Cleaver is basically acting as a result of pain and fanaticism, putting the focus on how religion can manipulate you in your lowest moments.

Horton's writing is a bit dense, but it pairs well with this kind of dark and atmospheric story; the historical aspect of the novel is well researched and transmitted through the use of certain terms. While the resolution of the mystery can be a bit predictable, the worldbuilding and the blend of Celtic and Cornish mythology work well, capturing also the sensation of being in a small isolated rural village.

Gorse is, by all terms, an excellent dark historical novel, perfect if you are looking for a story that revolves around the conflict between folklore and religion sprinkled with the presence of the Fair Folk. I'm really curious to see how this series will continue, but definitely Sam Horton has picked my interest!

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/09/19/review-gorse-by-sam-k-horton/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Simple. I loved this book.

I love stories of the fae but confess that I’m sometimes disappointed when they fail to shine, show their difference or stick their heads above the parapet. I recently fell for Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s fae stories which I highly recommend and now I think I’ve found another story of the Others that delivers on so many levels. This is definitely not a Disney version of the fae and I loved it.

Gorse is a period piece. Set in Cornwall of 1786 this is a time of very mixed beliefs. The church was trying to get a firm grip on people and shake the superstitions out of them and at the same time the Others and their Keepers were not totally ready to relinquish their hold. That’s a very quick overview for a story that pretty much throws you straight into the mire.

What I loved about this. The writing is gorgeous. The entire story is steeped in atmosphere and intrigue. The setting jumps off the page. Bogs, moors, flowers, patches of beauty followed by the grim and ethereal. There’s a feeling of cold grubbiness, of strife, of bitter recriminations and murder all shrouded in mist and shadow. And, slowly but surely, the body count is stacking up.

There’s a mystery here but not in the traditional sense. And you really do have to bear with the storytelling because there is some set up here – but, I loved it all.;

The characters, Nancy and Pel, the dog Pat and the horse Selkie. I fell for them all with their secrets and lies, their steadfast loyalty and courage. Let’s also not forget the fae, those cheeky little critters that are full of mischief and danger, living in the rafters and dusty corners, tending the hearths and helping out generally when treated right and then the more dangerous Others that dwell below, The Hunt and their King. There is much danger in these pages but it’s tempered by the beautiful writing and the love that grows for the characters.

These are savage and desperate times. Crowds are easily driven to frenzy with mobs baying for blood and our characters have their work cut out to stay alive – in fact there is much death amongst these pages.

On top of this there’s the whole split world, Cornwall and beneath. Startlingly similar and yet dramatically different.

I had such a good time with this. History meets folklore. It’s not particularly fast paced in the first half but this isn’t a criticism. I loved the set up, getting to know the world and the mystery that’s taking place in the pages. It’s deliciously dark, full of intrigue and ends with a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come next. I can’t wait.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This to me is Historical fiction/fantasy. The Gorse is about 18th Century Cornwall where the Brownies, Spriggans, and Piskies work in balance with the villagers. But this balance is tipped due to the murder of the villagers which turns the tide on that balance.
A murder mystery with fantasy elements in historic Cornwall...... a good read and four stars from me

Gorse is a novel that reflects the landscape within. Told with sprawling, meandering language that hooks you by the ankle and holds you firmly in place, this is not a quick read but one to be savoured.

Pel and Nancy give voice to the old ways of charms and folklore and magic but with the rise of Jacob Cleaver, reverend of the new church, the faith of the moor swings in the balance. A balance that, once broken, has catastrophic consequences.

In places, the pacing faltered and at times there were a lot of very similar names to keep track of, but that does not take away from what a fascinating read this is. The story enveloped me and is one I look forward to revisiting.

A dark and gripping historical fantasy that mixes small town politics, folk horror, Little People creating a very entertaining and compelling story.
The author is a talented storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Have fun, read it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Gorse, book one of The Eythin Legacy series is a historical, dark fantasy set in a small, sleepy village of 18th century Cornwall.

Before, the realms of the Fey and Men were mediated, controlled. But times have changed and Nancy Bligh must keep the balance.
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Gorse is filled with Celtic and Cornish folklore, and I enjoyed getting to know the creatures based off of this folklore bought to life by the descriptive writing.

I believe this would be a hit for fans of One Dark Window and Belladonna with its almost gothic, dark fantasy vibes.

Unfortunately, the religious undertones just didn’t work for me and I also felt that what had promise to be a good plot was somewhat spoiled by one of the main characters keeping information from another main character, which just didn’t work and became frustrating. I also don’t particularly care for the mentor-student trope, which is just down to my own tastes.

Gorse. Gorse, a type of shrub that thrives in marshy areas on the Atlantic coast, e.g. in Cornwall. Here lies the sleepy village of Mirecoombe; a few farms, a chapel, a tavern and the house of the Keeper of this enchanted landscape - and far below the moor, the Other World, the world of gods, spirits and fairies who occasionally stray into the gorse.

Pelagius Hunt, the Keeper, together with his foster daughter Nancy Bligh cares for this land. In recent years though, unusual, deadly incidents have been occurring on the moors. Most of the villagers, under the influence of the Christian village priest, agree that the murders are the result of the fact that so many people here still believe in the Other People. But what do Piskys, Spriggans and the gods of the Other World really have to do with the murders? And why is the Wild Hunt appearing on the edge of the horizon?

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You can tell from my description of this historical dark fantasy with a murder mystery element that I can't stop raving about it. For me, everything here was just right and interlocked perfectly:

🌿 The writing style was dense, atmospheric and incredibly immersive. It can be a bit unwieldy at times when the detailed setting is described using ‘old’ words; the eReader's ‘translate’ function was helpful for me as a non-native English reader. Horton often starts scene changes by ‘zooming in’ from far away, so that you are really sucked into the setting.

🌿 The characters - I reckon if you like the mentor-student trope, you'll be well served here. It doesn't rewrite the page, but the dynamic between the old, grumpy druid Pel and the young, ambitious and magic-wielding Nancy was lovely to read. Nancy in particular grew on me. As a changeling, she is an outsider in the village; little by little, she learns to trust herself and her powers. There is also a queer and neurodivergent subtext through her character 🫶🏻

🌿 In the world building, you can expect rich Celtic and Cornish folklore, monsters and gods and the belief in these beings in competition with the Christian faith - however, nothing in Gorse is all good or evil, black or white. It is darker in the atmosphere rather than in gruesome scenes - but there are still a few explicit parts. This is definitely not a cosy romantic fairy tale. A few references to gothic literature round off this well researched folk horror.

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What could have been better? Probably the plot itself - it was a little predictable, and there will probably be no surprises here for savvy murder mystery fans. A tighter story would have benefited to that. Also, I would have liked a glossary at the end (although idk if there is a glossary in the finished copy).

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To be honest, that doesn't detract from my rating. It's the dark historical folk fantasy of my dreams - 6/5 and a favourite of the year ⭐

Set in a remote village in 18th century Cornwall this book is packed with descriptive prose & full of brownies, spriggans & of course Cornish piskies.
It takes a little while to get going but definitely stick with it.

Spirits, Masters of truth and deniers of falsehoods, hear me. Children of gorse, of peat and decay. Tor-Spillers, cave dwellers. In this ink the world's reflection, in it's darkness the abyss. Show me the answers."

Gorse is my favourite book of the year so far, and I have read over 100. In fact, it is one of my all-time favourite books. It reminded me of The Bear and The Nightiingale and The Name of the Wind but Sam K. Horton also has a writing style that is wholly his own. Gorse contains all my favourite elements of a fantasy book but I can't describe what they are, just that this book most definitely contains them.

Gorse is about a small village torn between the old and the new world, between offerings given to appease the Underfolk, and the teachings of the church. It begins with the villagers uneasy after yet another unexplained death on the Moor.

"The boy lies in the morning sun, his shirt muddied and crumpled from the peat and grass he was found in."

This death is a turning point for the balance between the believers and the non-believers, a point at which loyalties begin to make themselves known.

"Five of our own are dead.Killed out on the moor. And where is our glorious protector, our 'keeper'? Where is the man who takes your money? Who gives you bundles of sticks to pin to your breast? Nowhere!"

Lord Pelagius Hunt is Keeper of the moor. He keeps the balance between the Underfolk and the villagers, offers tithes when needed and reprimands those who need it. Recently though Pel has taken a step back, irked at those who are turning away from the old ways. His ward Nancy is determined to keep the peace where he will not.

"He is a Keeper. A person chosen to watch the line, the fragile one that seperates us from Them, one from the other. The magic from the man. There is more in this world than many people know there is plenty in the world we've forgotten."

This dark fantasy so lovely to read, I couldn't stop thinking about it, even when I was not reading it. I loved every flawed, imperfect character in it.

Gorse captipulted me through it and if I could read it all over again I would. Gorse hooked me instantly and still hasn't let me go.

"There is magic in the gorse."

There’s so much narrative distance without the cushion of lyrical writing that it reads like it was written in the era it’s set - dry and wordy with weirdly broken sentences and characters that don’t really have much depth or intrigue to them. With a concept so heavily rooted in folklore (and specifically the way that Christianity burned away much of the faith in small gods and the faerie folk), I was expecting lush images and many creatures. The comparison to The Bear and the Nightingale doesn’t help, because that one is lyrical and beautiful even as it truly highlights the stark and unforgiving landscape and political situation. This one was just boring.

I somehow enjoyed the idea of this book more than the actual book. I really do think this book has so much potential and I’m sorry I can’t be more specific but something about it just didn’t work for me. I found it really hard to get into and it took several attempts for me to manage to read it. It’s a beautiful idea and a gorgeous cover but something didn’t work for me- it might do for you though, these things are often individual💚 I’ve not shared feedback publicly so far as I don’t want to share a more negative review when as a whole this has really good feedback. Honestly I may try it again one day, and hopefully my opinion will change then.

I'm conflicted, but I liked a lot more than I didn't!

On the one hand, the set-up/worldbuilding is great, pulling from old-school British folklore but with a lot I’ve never heard of before – like the fact that a lot of the fae creatures were human once upon a time, before they were remade by the God Under the Moor. THAT IS SUCH A COOL DETAIL. Did Horton invent it, or is he just way more informed about this stuff than me? Either is possible! Whichever, I loved all the details like that and am really glad they were included. The magic here feels magical, and old, and often eerie; I’m too much of a wimp to enjoy the occasional gory moment that we get, but the horror-y bits do help drive home that these are not Tinkerbell fairies – not even a little. And when we learn more about the god, and his opinion/response to his worship fading??? Also seriously excellent. There’s a lot of surprises in Gorse, little things that run counter to our genre-taught expectations, and I’m especially admiring of the fact that Horton GOES THERE repeatedly – presents us with a threat, which I at least brushed off because ‘that kind of thing NEVER happens outside of horror’…but then it does! I approve.

On the other hand…most of the plot was eventually revealed to hinge on one of the main characters not telling the other MC things ‘for her own good’, and I hate that. Pel, the Keeper of the moor, just… keeps secrets for no good reason, doesn’t share suspicions that he knows he ought to, LIES about stuff – and the lies don’t make sense. His refusal to teach Nancy everything she needs to know also makes no sense, and though both Nancy and the narrative call him on it, it left a bad waste in my mouth.

There are a lot of mini time-skips, the kind of thing where someone changes their mind between one sentence and the next, but we don’t know or see why; or someone is abruptly on the other side of the room, things like that. I’m hoping these will all be polished out in the final version, but I suspect they won’t be.

>‘Cleaver, if you won’t help then get out of the way. Now.’ The priest stayed kneeled.

‘O Lord. I beseech thee. Deliver my soul.’ His heart turning slowly, Cleaver nods, hesitantly, then runs out through the back of the chapel.<

??? Why did Cleaver suddenly agree to get out of the way? Is my arc missing a few sentences? NO IDEA.

Worse, there’s way too many WHY DIDN’T YOU DO THAT EARLIER moments, where someone reveals a magic or power that could have resolved everything months ago if they’d just, you know, used it sooner.

The prose is…coarse? Jerky? It’s clearly deliberate, because the whole book is written in that style, and that helps. But it’s not pretty, and the lack of description is frustrating, especially when it comes to the fae and the like. It feels like a missed opportunity to be writing about nature, the natural world, the moor, without the kind of loving description we get in Hild and Menewood by Nicola Griffith. The plainness of the prose might be intended as a reflection on the hard, simple lives the people in this setting live, but even if that’s so I’d say it’s the wrong call.

Coarse or not, there are some great lines nonetheless:

>Their heads are heavy with teeth<

>She has a lot to learn before he’s ready to pass the torch. He won’t let her get burnt.<

>The best stones have gone, taken to form the cornerstones of farmhouses, the foundation of a church. Old pagan rocks holding the new world on their shoulders.<

So it’s definitely not unreadable; Gorse splashes along at a good pace, with plenty of Easter eggs for those who know their folklore (like Pat and Eponina, Pel’s dog and horse, both being white with red ears, Eponina at least confirmed to have otherworldly origins). Some details are amazing, like the magical tattoos, and Horton is excellent at creating the sense that there’s a much bigger picture we’re not seeing quite yet. The fact that Gorse is the first book in the Eythin Legacy, and we learn next to nothing about Eythin here, suggests we have QUITE a way to go.

I’m pretty sure I’ll be picking up the sequel – I really want to see more of the world Horton’s created.

This dark and dreamy novel was the perfect mix of historical fantasy, speculative fiction and folklore. This is a story for the lovers of dark fairytales, atmosphere and beautiful prose. The words of Gorse need to be taken in slowly and savoured like a good quality bottle of wine. It had me mesmerised from the first page to the last.
There’s so much attention to detail within, from the vivid descriptions of the wild and unruly landscapes to the chapter titles based around herbal medicines.
Religion and superstition intersect and ultimately come to a head as the villagers are forced to question their beliefs as we follow Pel (keeper of the Moor) and Nancy (his assistant) as they attempt to solve a number of unexplained deaths that take place along the moors in Cornwall, during the 18th century.
Gorse will keep readers captivated with its gorgeous writing and its unique take on the fae.
I took a chance on Gorse and I’m glad I did because it was well worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris Books for my ARC!

Gorse is a story about an old Keeper, Pel, and his adoptive, twenty-one-year-old daughter, Nancy, some wicked faeries, and upset townspeople, as yet another one has died. As much as I loved this setting and the story that played out, I couldn't properly devour the story as the writing style didn't sit right with me.

In my opinion, the descriptions were overdone. I love getting engrossed in an atmospheric read, but the excess of descriptions slowed the plot, resulting in me getting bored and less drawn into the story.

The writing is unnecessarily poetic. Especially in the beginning, I noticed too many sentences that didn't contain a verb, making the story lifeless and dull. It did get better as the book progressed, which saved me from having to dnf it. As another reviewer has pointed out, this book needed better editing.

Thank you NetGalley and Solaris for giving me access to this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Gorse
by Sam K. Horton

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction, Sci-fi and Fantasy

I enjoyed this read, its an interesting mix of traditional folk tales wrapped up in a slightly different way, with Keepers, who act as a kind of liaison between humans and Fey.
Nancy, I really want to know more about her and The Murmur. Shes such a grown up character and yet is only twenty or so. There's some other really good characters here, along with the bad of course. Every book needs them.
The fey, a mix of helpful, quiet folk and blood thirsty, aggressive ones. Bit like humans really ;-) We see the best and worst of fey and humans here, some very tragic moments.
Its such an interesting read, kept me guessing who was responsible for a very long time, and the end, setting up for more but wrapping up this story, was excellent.
I do want to read more from these folk, how belief shapes their reality and actions.


Stars: Four, really interesting and unusual story.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

It's a great book if you love books based on folklore. I enjoyed that a lot.

It is also great if you want very descriptive book, slow paced and very focused at environment and atmosphere. That I didn't enjoy as much, as it's not typically what I enjoy to read. I prefer something a bit more faster paced and less descriptive. I almost dropped the book multiple times until 50% because it was so slow due to setting the environment.

I did enjoy it in the end, it got a lot more action packed in last 25%. I am unsure if I would read the next book, even though I am very curious about who is the Mother and about Nancy's history. We shall see, I expect there will be some time until next one comes.

I can recommend this book for anyone who likes folklore, slower paced book very focused on atmosphere.

Gorse is a truly magical book. The language is romantic, and yet, there is no romance in this folklore drenched murder mystery

Set in Mirecoombe; Brownies, Spriggans, and Piskies work alongside The Keeper to share the land with the villagers. Both giving and receiving a little in return. Unfortunately, the balance is off. The villagers are being murdered, giving less and insurrection threatens.

The Keeper and his ward must find the murdered and restore balance.

Gorse is a peaceful and yet haunting story of fundamental change, both personal and societal. A grown-up story of the faeries at the bottom of the garden and magical helpers inhomely shadows. The perfect book to read snuggled under a blanket with a cup of tea as the rain hits the window this autumn.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. This was stunning. Dark, lyrical, full of twists and turns. I love fantasy, so this right up my street.

18th-century Cornwall. A small village is at a crossroads: people are dying, swallowed into the heather and returned bloody. Their Keeper, an old man, has always bridged the human and Fae worlds. But a charismatic preacher promises that Christianity will save them. And in the gorse, something is watching.

I adored this: Gothic, folkloric, rich in imagery and tradition. It explores classic English fae, the effects of grief, and the importance of change and community; I also loved that it centred older characters and traditions. Definitely one for the long, autumn nights.

Dark fantasy in a wonderfully realised Cornish past

I love historical novels that don't hide their historic roots while feeling very much bang up-to-date. In a creepy and dark fantasy version of 18th century Cornwall, Horton gives us a stunning opening book in the Eythin Legacy, steeped in the folklore of peat bogs and misty moors, where the uncanny and mysterious deaths are never more than a step away.

The isolated village of Mirecoombe is no stranger to death, located right on the edge of a boggy moor in 18th century Cornwall. But when a string of seemingly motiveless deaths appear to be the work of more than human hands, the people turn to their Reverend for answers, and not to the Keeper of the moor, Pel, who communes with the unseen Underfolk, the spirits and helpers of longstanding tradition. When Pel risks all to find out who is to blame for the murders of innocents, he leaves only Nancy Bligh, blessed and cursed with mysterious powers of her own, to face the evil stalking the moor and the anger of the village folk.

An incredibly evocative book, filled with the intangible uncertainty of fog and mist, the story rattles along, reminding us of the traditions that linger in rural areas and in particular the mysteries of bogs. Pel and Nancy are suitably complex characters, forced by duty to do what they must, even in the face of doubt and derision around them. For the start of a series, this is a pleasingly complete book, with plenty of threads to pull loose for sequels.

Four and a half stars.