Thole: A Novel

by Christina Maraziotis

Tenderness burns itself into ashes; it resists every instinct, every rage rising within, to forgive what can neither be understood, nor felt.

Here, reveries twist into madness, and hope becomes a wretched company in a realm where no luster ever reaches.

A descent both physical and psychological, this story peels back the flesh of the past to expose the nerve endings that remained.

She roused, deep in the earth’s cradle—entombed in darkness and bleached bones and murmurs of a company that lurks in the shadows.

Thole follows Charlotte into a brooding descent, trapped beneath the surface, while above, a hunt continues; through faces of derangement, mouths of deceit, impious promises, and lastly, Charlotte’s own unrelenting will.

While behind bars, Marshal Tilghman grapples with Charlotte’s absence, his own sullied identity, and the solemn duty of raising young Jonathan in a world that refuses to understand him. With Dr. Clark’s guidance, and a mysterious presence offering unexpected relief, he claws his way back towards a fatherhood long waned beneath his wounds.

In the heart of a quagmire, within a derelict cabin, Charlotte finds herself in Mac’s quiet company, where pulsebeats tangle once more, and a stark flame rekindles between them, flaring deeper than either dared before—into a place where love becomes its own battlefield. And as it grows, and spreads, Charlotte begins to see, some embers leave only ash in the hands that reached too close.

The world of Loveletting expands further—richer, stranger, and bolder—introducing new souls and returning old ones.

Memories unearthed stitch past to present in a tale both sweeping and intimate.

And through it all, the wicked traipse within the jaws of trauma and revenge, dispersing in a grotesque gothic atmosphere and psychological horror with their mere essence…

778 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2025

About the author

Christina was twenty-seven years old at the time she began writing Loveletting. Born and raised in Greece, she has always had an affinity for language; fluently speaking Greek, German, and English. After years of experimenting with different professions, suddenly it dawned on her: writing was the only thing that actually made sense. It all started with a simple prologue in the notes of her phone, and since then, she hasn’t missed a single day of writing and working on her very first novel series — breathing life into it, as it breathes life back into her. The primary goal as a writer is to strike certain melancholic chords in the heart while reading, pulling from deeply haunting personal experiences to create books that linger in the mind long after the story is finished. Her stories combine gothic romance, intense adventure with nerve-wracking suspense, entwined with vague and unsettling horror subplots — and a myriad of controversial subjects to challenge any reader’s views — all taking place in the historical setting of late 19th century Victorian west. Focus lays heavily on character development, as it is crucial to her and her story; for the reader to bond with the characters, and feel like they’re reading about an old friend. Her purpose is for the reader to be transported to another world, escaping from reality, and finding an eerie comfort within a haunting experience.

Reviews

[Donna Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was ready for this book. I wasn't. I thought I knew these characters. I didn't. I thought I had a handle on this massive story. I know nothing. All I know with absolute certainty is that this novel is heartbreaking, breathtaking and totally tore me apart, inside and out. After finishing this gut-wrenching volume of the outstanding "Loveletting" series, all I want to do is cry. Cry for the people these characters used to be, who they are now and who they are becoming. I've never encountered an author who knows just how to strike the right chords, in just a few words or sentences, that hits you right in the heart and takes your breath away. That makes you feel every bit of what her characters are feeling physically, mentally and emotionally, and even what they don't even realize they're feeling yet. I can't even describe it in words other than to say it's a magical alchemy that just works and wraps its tentacles around you in such a way that you almost want to be with these people. I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to reach inside the pages to offer comfort and succor to those within, but was helpless to do so. 


This book of the series, more than any other, delves deep into the psyche of each character more than any other. That doesn't mean there isn't action however. There's plenty of that, along with copious amounts of humor. (I know there are some objects I'll never look at the same way again.) There is so so much to love with this book that I could wax on for days. But that's not what really matters. In the end, what it all comes down to is a soul-shattering experience. I innocently picked up "Haunt," the first book in the series, without a clue. It was a serendipitous moment that I only now recognize in hindsight. That book was astounding. That book changed me. That book started a journey. My life will never be the same again.

[V's Rockin' Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣…𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙚’𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙚’𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡.”

Oh, my heart 😭 Don’t mind me just crying over fictional characters again. Another incredible read from Christina Maraziotis! And the heat was cranked up all the way in this one (I’m looking at you Tilghman 📞🫦🤭).

“𝙈𝙖𝙘…𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙…𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡.”

Who knew Mac could be such a poet?! 🫠 I craved those intimate moments between him and Charlotte. Watching him try to express feelings his feral self keeps buried was both beautiful and, at times, maddening. We see the struggles that come with loving an outlaw, a murderer, a villain. Is it enough?

“𝙔𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧. “𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨.”

And then there’s Patrick. I felt for him in this book, I truly did. Part of me wanted to rewind back to Ghost, when everything still felt possible for him (if only for a moment). The tension between him and Charlotte, when he bled out his heart and it still wasn’t enough. The struggles he faced with Jonathan. The return of Mac throwing his world into even more chaos. Seeing him this low broke my heart 💔

“𝙄 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮.”

Saga’s role in Thole was very interesting - I’m so curious to see what’s next for her. Jesse, you total sweetheart, you’re still my favourite. When the cover details hit you 🤯 And of course, a couple cliffhangers that left me aching for the next book.

My reviews tend to be vibe-based more than critical, so I never feel like they do the Loveletting Series justice, but this series deserves all the praise 👏🏼 Haunting, emotional, and so beautifully written - it never misses. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds 🖤