Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Book Release Date: November 11, 2025
Pages: 297
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Book two in the Hecate Cavendish series from New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston - a magic infused series about an eccentric and spirited young woman who can see ghosts.
Hereford, England 1881.
The adventure continues! After the fire and the tumultuous events in the cathedral library, Hecate is determined never again to come so close to losing the beloved mappa mundi. She has shown herself to be the greatest threat to the Essedenes and their plans and they will stop at nothing to be rid of her. With the help of her archeologist father, and the support of the redoubtable and loyal Inspector Winter, she must take the fight to her enemies.
But the numbers of Embodied Spirits are growing with terrifying speed, and an atmosphere of violence and danger has taken hold of the ancient city of Hereford. Hecate dare not trust anyone beyond her inner circle, no matter how benevolent they might seem. Nor will she risk the lives of those she loves ever again. The goddess Hekate has called her to action. She must draw upon all her gifts, and the assistance of her family of ghostly allies, if the city is not to be lost to darkness forever.
My Review: The Cathedral of Lost Souls is the sequel to The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. This book picks up directly where the first novel left off. Hecate still has not utterly defeated her enemy. Her enemy is silently waiting for the time to stir up trouble. This time Hecate Cavendish is determined to destroy her enemy before it can hurt those she loves. Therefore, Hecate Cavendish must use her own powers to save her town.
Hecate has grown from the first novel. I like how Hecate has become more independent and self-determined. She is also very intelligent and was able to recognize the evil happenings that were occurring in her town. Hecate was a very strong protagonist. She was not a damsel in distress. Therefore, I found her to be more endearing than the first novel! I wanted her to have her own happy ending!
Overall, this book is about grief, love, and friendship. The message of this book is to be confident in yourself. I like all of the characters in the novel. They definitely have grown on me from the first book. I love Hecate’s friendship with Inspector Winter. I also love Hecate’s relationship with her father. I did not care for the romance and found it underwhelming. I hope that there will be another book in this series because a few aspects in the novel were left unresolved. Nevertheless, I enjoyed The Cathedral of Lost Souls more than The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish! It was very fast-paced and action-packed! I could hardly put it down! I recommend this book for fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia, The Witch of Painted Sorrows, and The Keys of the Watchmen!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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