Gleam
A gothic fairytale novella.
Beatrice Collingwood is not giving up.
Sent from her charming countryside home to her cruel stepfather's abandoned manor, Beatrice is haunted by screaming spirits and horrifying helplessness. But there are secrets in this haunted house, and Beatrice is not as easily defeated as her stepfather hopes.
Reviews
"Audley masterfully paints a portrait of resilience and human connection, focusing on the relationship between Beatrice and the fairy godmother and how she learns the importance of connecting with other people, the importance of community, and that it's okay to let other people help you. I highly recommend this story. It's beautiful, it's evocative, and the atmosphere is A+" - Brittiny, Goodreads review
"Gleam tears at your heart but will put it back together. This gothic fairytale is a quick read, but even with few pages, Beatrice comes alive and soon enough, you're rooting and crying for her. Gleam is such a satisfying read and one that will stick with you for some time." - myloveshine, Storygraph review
Crown of Ivy
A romantic Greek myth retelling.
A curse lurks in the waves lapping on the shores of Crete. When an opportunity to break it arises, the princess Ariadne is faced with a choice: betray her family and her people, or continue to suffer. She takes a hopeful chance — and loses everything.
Abandoned on a strange island, she meets a mysterious stranger who just might have the key to a brighter future. But he's keeping secrets, and Ariadne must decide if she can afford to take another risk.
Reviews
"I read most of Crown of Ivy while I should have been thinking of going to sleep; it just would not let me go." - Remco Straten, Goodreads review
"Gorgeous prose that takes you on a journey to uninhibited freedom." - sparklybooklover, Storygraph review
"This is a beautiful novella retelling of the Ariadne myth. The writing style puts to mind fairy tales or folk tales told next to a roaring fireplace. There are moments of breathtakingly poetic prose that serve to enhance the grandiose tradition of the classic Greek myths. Ariadne and Dionysus' relationship is sweet and beautiful. I absolutely loved this book." - Brittiny, Goodreads review
The Hunt and the Haunting
A queer regency ghost story.
Agnes Marchdale loved to tell fantastical stories. She never expected to find herself in one.
Everything seems to be looking up for the Marchdale sisters after Marianne's engagement to the rich and handsome Lord Blackett. But when a long-buried scandal rears its head and threatens to overturn everything, Agnes must determine where truth lies or risk greater danger than she ever imagined.
The Hunt and the Haunting is a story about ghosts, both literal and metaphorical; a story about the stories we love, the stories we believe, and the stories that shape the world around us.
Reviews
"In a world that deserves more queer regency works of literature, The Hunt and the Haunting delivers. It's also a ghost story with a touch of mystery. Our heroine Agnes is a typical heroine from a Disney fairytale: selfless and tireless. She loves and wants to protect her sister, and sister stories always do me in. A delightful read from start to finish." - myloveshine, Storygraph review
The Sharpest Thorn
A gothic take on Greek mythology.
In an alternate-universe gothic-flavoured Greece, one war consumes the mortal world while another brews in the realm of the gods. Civil war rages on the island of Syros, and Psyche impersonates the goddess Aphrodite in order to win support for her father's cause. When the goddess curses her in revenge, she sends her son, Eros, to finish the job. Newly questioning his place and power, he refuses, and whisks Psyche away to an enchanted palace out of Aphrodite's sight.
Together, Eros and Psyche build a life of their own in defiance of what is demanded of them, but the secrets they keep from each other threaten their ability to keep it. Psyche betrays Eros and they are torn apart, but they know now what life they want and what they're capable of doing to get it. Each of them must challenge their families and embrace their darkness if they want to find each other again in the light.
Reviews
"The Sharpest Thorn follows the Eros and Psyche myth and is almost entirely from Psyche's perspective. Victoria Audley, unsurprisingly, uses such beautiful and evocative writing. The romance aspect is, as the kids say, chef's kiss. I've read all of Audley's works, which are wonderful in their unique way, but there's something so special about the Sharpest Thorn that makes it my favorite. And like with Audley's novella Crown of Ivy, even if you're someone with little background in Greek mythology like me, you can and will be immersed!" - myloveshine, Storygraph review