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The Time of the Hunter's Moon
Cordelia Grant wonders if she is dreaming after she sees a handsome stranger in the forest at the time of the hunter's moon, when legends say a girl will see her future husband. Haunted by the memory of this mystery man, Cordelia begins a new life as schoolmistress at a girl's academy and finds herself pursued by Jason Verringer, a dashing land baron with a scandalous It is rumored that Jason murdered his wife and mistress. But he has invaded her thoughts and is competing with the memory of the handsome stranger. Now Cordelia's destiny depends on finding out the truth about two very different men . . .
339 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
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About the author
Victoria Holt
373 books1,378 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
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July 8, 2021
Time of the Hunter’s Moon by Victoria Holt is a 2013 Sourcebooks Casablanca publication. (Originally published in 1983)
Victoria Holt writes a Bodice Ripper?
While attending school, Cordelia Grant and a group of her friends, indulge in a little harmless folklore by gathering at a specific location, at the time of the Hunter’s Moon, in hopes of finding their future husband. Sure enough, a man emerges in their midst, striking up a brief conversation with the girls, paying close attention to Cordelia, especially.
Upon graduation, Cordelia takes a job at an all- girls school. After meeting the mysterious stranger again, only to have him disappear, Cordelia tries to search him out, only to have the mystery deepen. Over time, she tries to put the odd experience out of her mind.
As it turns out, she has more troubling things to concern herself with. One, is a student that needs extra attention, and another is a group of girls who intend to challenge her authority. But the most upsetting issue is that she has somehow managed to catch the attention of Sir Jason Verringer, a land baron, with a wicked reputation… including the rumor that he may have murdered his invalid wife so that he could marry his mistress.
Once Jason has set his sight on Cordelia, he manipulates, schemes and connives to spend time alone with her. His attentions flatter her, but he also seriously frightens her, especially after his mistress suddenly disappears….
Maybe I have mythologized Victoria Holt over the years, or perhaps I have selective memories. I have not read all of her books, so maybe I read a handful that were tame compared to the others-I’m not sure.
But, this book, written well past the Gothic Romance/Suspense genre’s prime, felt like an attempt by Holt to cash in the wildly popular historical romance/bodice ripper trend of that time, write something that appealed to a more mature audience, and still make her romantic suspense fans happy. The result was a mix of bad writing, and an almost unforgivable attempted rape scene.
If I had been reading a historical romance written in the early eighties by any other writer, I would have braced myself for such an inevitable scene, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that to pop up in a book written by Victoria Holt!
I'm sure long time fans will enlighten me as to whether or not I am likely to encounter this situation again in her books- or if this was an anomaly- but for me-this was definitely not one of Holt's finer moments-
2 stars
Victoria Holt writes a Bodice Ripper?
While attending school, Cordelia Grant and a group of her friends, indulge in a little harmless folklore by gathering at a specific location, at the time of the Hunter’s Moon, in hopes of finding their future husband. Sure enough, a man emerges in their midst, striking up a brief conversation with the girls, paying close attention to Cordelia, especially.
Upon graduation, Cordelia takes a job at an all- girls school. After meeting the mysterious stranger again, only to have him disappear, Cordelia tries to search him out, only to have the mystery deepen. Over time, she tries to put the odd experience out of her mind.
As it turns out, she has more troubling things to concern herself with. One, is a student that needs extra attention, and another is a group of girls who intend to challenge her authority. But the most upsetting issue is that she has somehow managed to catch the attention of Sir Jason Verringer, a land baron, with a wicked reputation… including the rumor that he may have murdered his invalid wife so that he could marry his mistress.
Once Jason has set his sight on Cordelia, he manipulates, schemes and connives to spend time alone with her. His attentions flatter her, but he also seriously frightens her, especially after his mistress suddenly disappears….
Maybe I have mythologized Victoria Holt over the years, or perhaps I have selective memories. I have not read all of her books, so maybe I read a handful that were tame compared to the others-I’m not sure.
But, this book, written well past the Gothic Romance/Suspense genre’s prime, felt like an attempt by Holt to cash in the wildly popular historical romance/bodice ripper trend of that time, write something that appealed to a more mature audience, and still make her romantic suspense fans happy. The result was a mix of bad writing, and an almost unforgivable attempted rape scene.
If I had been reading a historical romance written in the early eighties by any other writer, I would have braced myself for such an inevitable scene, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that to pop up in a book written by Victoria Holt!
I'm sure long time fans will enlighten me as to whether or not I am likely to encounter this situation again in her books- or if this was an anomaly- but for me-this was definitely not one of Holt's finer moments-
2 stars
August 11, 2019
Victoria Holt can usually be counted on for an enjoyable historical romance, but this is not one of those. When you are so prolific, there are bound to be a few rotten apples. The Time of the Hunter's Moon starts and continues in a boring description of the life of a young school teacher in rural England, Cordelia's duties and her life sound very tedious and Holt describes them thus. It is like she's going through the motions, the writer and her subject.
So it was very shocking when a revolting scene is set in which her lover attempts to rape her. Ugh! But, she puts him off by plunging her arms through a window and bleeding profusely. What a great guy! He gets the message and backs off. He insists later on that if only she had given in then, he could have shown her what she was missing. He is not lacking in self-confidence, but only in humanity it seems.
There were some delightful characters, like Cordelia's Aunt Patty, who was very kind, practical and loving and whose one eccentricity was the love of fancy hats. I think Cordelia should have grown old with her, instead of the zero hero.
So it was very shocking when a revolting scene is set in which her lover attempts to rape her. Ugh! But, she puts him off by plunging her arms through a window and bleeding profusely. What a great guy! He gets the message and backs off. He insists later on that if only she had given in then, he could have shown her what she was missing. He is not lacking in self-confidence, but only in humanity it seems.
There were some delightful characters, like Cordelia's Aunt Patty, who was very kind, practical and loving and whose one eccentricity was the love of fancy hats. I think Cordelia should have grown old with her, instead of the zero hero.
January 21, 2023
The Time of the Hunter's Moon is yet another formulaic and often rather woefully predictable offering from Victoria Holt, and even when I first read this novel as a teenager, I was constantly aware of my sense of almost palpable disbelief. For while the heroine, Cordelia Grant, is indeed realistically enough conceptualised and drawn in and of herself, the "meeting the stranger in the woods" episodes, the rather ridiculous coincidences and the entire demeanour of Sir Jason Verringer (I mean, he actually tried to force himself on Cordelia, and in the end, she very much gladly and even willingly marries him) have never made The Time of the Hunter's Moon all that enjoyable for me (as I have always found the plot rather creepy and sinister, and if it had not been for Cordelia's Aunt Patty, and her companion Violet, both of whom I adore, I might not have finished the novel both when I read it at around age sixteen and now, for my recent rereads).
Still, The Time of the Hunter's Moon remains partially and mildly recommended for those who enjoy historical romances, especially tales about mysterious lords of the manor, with troubled pasts/reputations (who are then, of course, reclaimed, redeemed and loved by the heroines). But in my humble opinion, and even if you are a die-hard fan of Victoria Holt, there are truly much better offerings from her pen (and that rape scene really is rather despicable, especially since it almost seems a bit of a romantic fantasy, not my cup of proverbial tea at all). And thus, while I do consider the novel to be worth two stars for general readability and interest, because of that rape scene and the fact that Cordelia actually ends up marrying Jason Verringer, the man who had tried to molest and ravish her, I am now changing my ranking for The Time of the Hunter's Moon from two stars to only one star (well, actually to one and a half stars), for that entire concept of marriage after rape (and that a woman should in any way consider a man who has basically tried to violate her as a mate) should not EVER be deemed as positive, as romantic, or even remotely encouraged by any stretch of the imagiantion.
Still, The Time of the Hunter's Moon remains partially and mildly recommended for those who enjoy historical romances, especially tales about mysterious lords of the manor, with troubled pasts/reputations (who are then, of course, reclaimed, redeemed and loved by the heroines). But in my humble opinion, and even if you are a die-hard fan of Victoria Holt, there are truly much better offerings from her pen (and that rape scene really is rather despicable, especially since it almost seems a bit of a romantic fantasy, not my cup of proverbial tea at all). And thus, while I do consider the novel to be worth two stars for general readability and interest, because of that rape scene and the fact that Cordelia actually ends up marrying Jason Verringer, the man who had tried to molest and ravish her, I am now changing my ranking for The Time of the Hunter's Moon from two stars to only one star (well, actually to one and a half stars), for that entire concept of marriage after rape (and that a woman should in any way consider a man who has basically tried to violate her as a mate) should not EVER be deemed as positive, as romantic, or even remotely encouraged by any stretch of the imagiantion.
September 18, 2021
Halloween Bingo 2021
3.5 stars
I'm not sure how I missed reading this Holt novel way back when. I may have by-passed it, as my mother and I used to share them and we decided at one point that her gothic romances were no longer up to our standards. A quick calculation reveals that the author would have been 75 years old when this was published, so she must have been a lively older woman.
I enjoyed this adventure a great deal, possibly because it was brand new to me. Of course, it became obvious from early in the story that Cordelia was to be matched up with several men, but there is little doubt which one she will choose.
There are a lot of Jane Eyre-like details. Cordelia is an orphan, raised by an aunt. Thankfully, her Aunt Pattie is nothing like Jane's Aunt Reed. Cordelia must earn her living as a school teacher and ends up teaching the two nieces of the local aristocrat, Jason Verringer. Like Mr. Rochester, he has a past. Cordelia arrives on the day of his invalid wife's funeral. The local grapevine is delighted to fill her in on their speculation that he murdered the wife in order to marry his mistress, who is ensconced in a nearby cottage. He pursues Cordelia determinedly, but she refuses to be caught, despite being seriously attracted to him. Her reputation is important if she is to keep her teaching position. She also has a banker as a suitor, rather like Jane's cousin St. John.
There is also a mystery swirling. Cordelia met a mysterious man while at finishing school in Switzerland and thought he was interested in her. He kept turning up in her life, something that made him seem like a romantic prospect. Then he vanishes without a word and she finds that everything he told her was a lie. Later, she learns that he married one of her close school friends, who has subsequently died in a skiing accident. There are a lot of women disappearing and dying under suspicious circumstances and Cordelia tries to piece together the clues to prevent further tragedy.
This is a very predictable book. As I said earlier, it is easily told early in the game which man she will end up with. I figured out the major points of the mystery, although some of details eluded me. Still it was a very entertaining way to fill the Gothic square for Halloween Bingo.
3.5 stars
I'm not sure how I missed reading this Holt novel way back when. I may have by-passed it, as my mother and I used to share them and we decided at one point that her gothic romances were no longer up to our standards. A quick calculation reveals that the author would have been 75 years old when this was published, so she must have been a lively older woman.
I enjoyed this adventure a great deal, possibly because it was brand new to me. Of course, it became obvious from early in the story that Cordelia was to be matched up with several men, but there is little doubt which one she will choose.
There are a lot of Jane Eyre-like details. Cordelia is an orphan, raised by an aunt. Thankfully, her Aunt Pattie is nothing like Jane's Aunt Reed. Cordelia must earn her living as a school teacher and ends up teaching the two nieces of the local aristocrat, Jason Verringer. Like Mr. Rochester, he has a past. Cordelia arrives on the day of his invalid wife's funeral. The local grapevine is delighted to fill her in on their speculation that he murdered the wife in order to marry his mistress, who is ensconced in a nearby cottage. He pursues Cordelia determinedly, but she refuses to be caught, despite being seriously attracted to him. Her reputation is important if she is to keep her teaching position. She also has a banker as a suitor, rather like Jane's cousin St. John.
There is also a mystery swirling. Cordelia met a mysterious man while at finishing school in Switzerland and thought he was interested in her. He kept turning up in her life, something that made him seem like a romantic prospect. Then he vanishes without a word and she finds that everything he told her was a lie. Later, she learns that he married one of her close school friends, who has subsequently died in a skiing accident. There are a lot of women disappearing and dying under suspicious circumstances and Cordelia tries to piece together the clues to prevent further tragedy.
This is a very predictable book. As I said earlier, it is easily told early in the game which man she will end up with. I figured out the major points of the mystery, although some of details eluded me. Still it was a very entertaining way to fill the Gothic square for Halloween Bingo.
March 13, 2013
Now this is one of the good VH's. We plunge right into the action, with the threads of the mystery being laid in the opening chapters (pay attention now!). The heroine is already a young adult and the book doesn't dwell on her childhood. The hero shows up by page 50 and is pleasingly alpha. What's not to like?
VH writes a good mystery here. It stays in the background during a large part of the middle chapters, but ramps up nicely again towards the end. Not that the middle sagged, there was lots going on. What happened to the hero's dead wife? Is the melodramatic ex-actress really his mistress? Where did she disappear to? Is the hero's niece really being poisoned? I was absorbed and kept turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.
This is also a rare VH with genuine passion and sexual tension. The locale is nicely creepy. The writing is focused and very good. There aren't too many secondary characters overwhelming the plot. I did like the heroine's aunt a lot.
The heroine is very likable and behaves maturely. She takes a bit long to see what's going on, but once her suspicions are aroused she makes some good deductions in the final chapters. The hero is suitably mysterious, actively pursues the heroine for a large part of the book, and actually lives up to his bad reputation. He lures the heroine to a quiet room and attempts to forcibly seduce her. So forcibly that she cuts her hand breaking a window to escape him. He claims if she'd only given in, she would have enjoyed it. Now there's a rake, people! Of course he redeems himself with some heroics at the end.
So a solid 4* from me.
VH writes a good mystery here. It stays in the background during a large part of the middle chapters, but ramps up nicely again towards the end. Not that the middle sagged, there was lots going on. What happened to the hero's dead wife? Is the melodramatic ex-actress really his mistress? Where did she disappear to? Is the hero's niece really being poisoned? I was absorbed and kept turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.
This is also a rare VH with genuine passion and sexual tension. The locale is nicely creepy. The writing is focused and very good. There aren't too many secondary characters overwhelming the plot. I did like the heroine's aunt a lot.
The heroine is very likable and behaves maturely. She takes a bit long to see what's going on, but once her suspicions are aroused she makes some good deductions in the final chapters. The hero is suitably mysterious, actively pursues the heroine for a large part of the book, and actually lives up to his bad reputation. He lures the heroine to a quiet room and attempts to forcibly seduce her. So forcibly that she cuts her hand breaking a window to escape him. He claims if she'd only given in, she would have enjoyed it. Now there's a rake, people! Of course he redeems himself with some heroics at the end.
So a solid 4* from me.
March 14, 2018
I was hoping that Holt was going to surprise me with this one. Have the sensible heroine just marry the very good man that was standing in front of her. Instead we have the fact that the man had affairs and tried to rape the heroine hand-waved away by saying that she is needed in order for him to change. Bah to that noise. I really did like the plot in this one (there were two of them) and the characters were much more developed than I have found in other Holt books. Holt apes a lot of Gothic romance tropes here, but geez Louise I hated the hero in this one. I wanted him to just fall down a hole and die. There was nothing redeeming about the guy.
"The Time of the Hunter's Moon" by Victoria Holt is another Gothic romance I can now check off my list. So far the highest rating I have given a Holt book is "Mistress of Mellyn" which I gave five stars.
The main character in this, Cordelia, when we first meet her, is away at a school to "finish herself." She has been raised by her Aunt Patty and is looking forward to the day she is home permanently and can help her aunt run her own school. When Cordelia and her friend come upon a man in the woods, Cordelia is instantly absorbed with thoughts of him. When she finally returns home for the final time after finishing school she runs into him again and starts to think of him romantically. When he disappears without coming back to see her again she wonders what happened to him. However, she finds out that her aunt has to sell their home and Cordelia finds a position at a school which has her forced to interact with a major force in the village. The hero (I say lightly) is named Jason Verringer and he's a typical Gothic hero. Dark and brooding and just terrible. He attempts to rape the heroine at one point, and is literally shocked she cuts herself to get away from him. And then tells her if not for her, he could change. Bah dude. I wished the whole time that something would fall on his head.
Cordelia is sensible and smart and I thought had a lot more fire than the recent batch of Holt heroines I have been reading about prior to this one.
The writing was a little too modernish at times, but I think the book is supposed to take place in the late 1800s. I don't know. Holt doesn't include any references that I can think of at the top of my head that I can use to date the book. The flow was actually pretty good until we get towards the end. Then I think Holt suddenly realized she needed to resolve two plot points and didn't do a great job with either of them.
The ending was not set up very well. We have a mystery finally resolved about one of the male characters we were introduced to earlier in the book, but Holt throws up a couple of paragraphs and counts it as mission accomplished. I noticed with her books she was not that great at tying up loose ends in her books.
"The Time of the Hunter's Moon" by Victoria Holt is another Gothic romance I can now check off my list. So far the highest rating I have given a Holt book is "Mistress of Mellyn" which I gave five stars.
The main character in this, Cordelia, when we first meet her, is away at a school to "finish herself." She has been raised by her Aunt Patty and is looking forward to the day she is home permanently and can help her aunt run her own school. When Cordelia and her friend come upon a man in the woods, Cordelia is instantly absorbed with thoughts of him. When she finally returns home for the final time after finishing school she runs into him again and starts to think of him romantically. When he disappears without coming back to see her again she wonders what happened to him. However, she finds out that her aunt has to sell their home and Cordelia finds a position at a school which has her forced to interact with a major force in the village. The hero (I say lightly) is named Jason Verringer and he's a typical Gothic hero. Dark and brooding and just terrible. He attempts to rape the heroine at one point, and is literally shocked she cuts herself to get away from him. And then tells her if not for her, he could change. Bah dude. I wished the whole time that something would fall on his head.
Cordelia is sensible and smart and I thought had a lot more fire than the recent batch of Holt heroines I have been reading about prior to this one.
The writing was a little too modernish at times, but I think the book is supposed to take place in the late 1800s. I don't know. Holt doesn't include any references that I can think of at the top of my head that I can use to date the book. The flow was actually pretty good until we get towards the end. Then I think Holt suddenly realized she needed to resolve two plot points and didn't do a great job with either of them.
The ending was not set up very well. We have a mystery finally resolved about one of the male characters we were introduced to earlier in the book, but Holt throws up a couple of paragraphs and counts it as mission accomplished. I noticed with her books she was not that great at tying up loose ends in her books.
June 22, 2014
This is one of the very worst books I have ever read. I generally like Victoria Holt books. I find them good quick reads, light entertainment, nothing spectacular but enjoyable. This book was simply a mess. It starts promising enough with a group of young girls meeting a handsome stranger in the woods. Then he isn't mentioned again until the book is half over. The story was all over the place and never really came together very well at all. I had to make myself finish it just to see what happened in the end. Very dissapointing.
July 5, 2012
Let me start by saying that I adore Victoria Holt's writing and mystery style. She seems to have the same sort of formula = suspicious and strong female lead + brooding and wrongly accused male lead. I will say, though, that she makes each character unique, so it doesn't feel like your reading the same book over and over. Also, I wish she would dare to write in more "smut". She's absolutely fabulous at emoting sexual tension, but it never seems to go anywhere, and this leaves me wanting more.
So...now to be more specific about this novel. Cordelia, the main character, was realistic and likable. I enjoyed her quick wit and her caring nature. The brooding male lead, Jason, was a bit over the top. I had a difficult time liking him. He's creepy when Cordelia and he first meet/talk, and lavishes corny compliments her way. I almost expected him to pull the "Did it hurt?...falling from heaven." He was also overly blase about the entire town thinking him a philanderer and murderer. I'm pretty sure, in those circumstances, one would be a bit more upset. Also, and this is the main reason for the 3 stars...what was up with the Devil's Den scene? I'm to believe that ALL the windows were barred, except one which had glass? Also, in what universe is it okay to try and rape someone? His reasoning of "I wanted to make you happy", was extremely disturbing. I just couldn't get over that! And of course, the two lovers finally get together when one of them gets injured and the other realizes their feelings. Really? Really?
I'm getting myself a bit worked up...on to a different subject...Elsa and her brother were very intriguing. I guessed that Fiona ran off with the same dude, and I was right! Aha! Is it odd that I liked him better than Jason, even though he turned out to be a murderer? He was just so sweet, in the beginning. I totally would have fallen for his tricks, and been murdered.
My favorite character, of course, was Aunt Patty. What a wonderful, jolly, and warm hearted woman! I want an Aunt Patty in my life! =)
So...now to be more specific about this novel. Cordelia, the main character, was realistic and likable. I enjoyed her quick wit and her caring nature. The brooding male lead, Jason, was a bit over the top. I had a difficult time liking him. He's creepy when Cordelia and he first meet/talk, and lavishes corny compliments her way. I almost expected him to pull the "Did it hurt?...falling from heaven." He was also overly blase about the entire town thinking him a philanderer and murderer. I'm pretty sure, in those circumstances, one would be a bit more upset. Also, and this is the main reason for the 3 stars...what was up with the Devil's Den scene? I'm to believe that ALL the windows were barred, except one which had glass? Also, in what universe is it okay to try and rape someone? His reasoning of "I wanted to make you happy", was extremely disturbing. I just couldn't get over that! And of course, the two lovers finally get together when one of them gets injured and the other realizes their feelings. Really? Really?
I'm getting myself a bit worked up...on to a different subject...Elsa and her brother were very intriguing. I guessed that Fiona ran off with the same dude, and I was right! Aha! Is it odd that I liked him better than Jason, even though he turned out to be a murderer? He was just so sweet, in the beginning. I totally would have fallen for his tricks, and been murdered.
My favorite character, of course, was Aunt Patty. What a wonderful, jolly, and warm hearted woman! I want an Aunt Patty in my life! =)
April 10, 2013
I'm not hiding this because I want it to be read, but it WILL HAVE SPOILERS. I'm not tagging them because pretty much my whole review is spoilers and that would be silly, so DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE SPOILERS!
Okay, now. If I could give this book 0 stars, I would. I've only skimmed the reviews, so I may have missed someone saying this, but I am absolutely SHOCKED that I've seen no one as outraged and astonished as I am at the outcome of this book.
The "heroine" marries a man who tried to rape her.
Not to mention that he basically stalked and harassed her relentlessly even before that, but I was willing to let that go and chalk it up to the "hot and heavy pursuit" idea popular in romance novels. But RAPE?! Seriously?! I'm supposed to read that this man tried his damnedest to rape a woman, and then be okay with her saying "Oh, well, I could never be happy with anyone else so I'll just forget it and marry him."
Sorry, but that's a big hell no for me.
And it's really a shame too, because the writing style was nice and I was intrigued by the plot. Plus I adore romances, Victorian era novels, historical fiction... I was all set to love this book. But because the author clearly has some internalized misogyny issues, or perhaps a misguided rape fantasy, I will tell everyone I know never to read this book or any others by her.
No one needs to be told they should marry, or even tolerate, someone who tries to impose their will upon someone else. Ever.
Okay, now. If I could give this book 0 stars, I would. I've only skimmed the reviews, so I may have missed someone saying this, but I am absolutely SHOCKED that I've seen no one as outraged and astonished as I am at the outcome of this book.
The "heroine" marries a man who tried to rape her.
Not to mention that he basically stalked and harassed her relentlessly even before that, but I was willing to let that go and chalk it up to the "hot and heavy pursuit" idea popular in romance novels. But RAPE?! Seriously?! I'm supposed to read that this man tried his damnedest to rape a woman, and then be okay with her saying "Oh, well, I could never be happy with anyone else so I'll just forget it and marry him."
Sorry, but that's a big hell no for me.
And it's really a shame too, because the writing style was nice and I was intrigued by the plot. Plus I adore romances, Victorian era novels, historical fiction... I was all set to love this book. But because the author clearly has some internalized misogyny issues, or perhaps a misguided rape fantasy, I will tell everyone I know never to read this book or any others by her.
No one needs to be told they should marry, or even tolerate, someone who tries to impose their will upon someone else. Ever.
Want to read
February 16, 2011I. JUST. COULD. CARE. LESS.
I tried to read this book, Ikinda really did! I just couldn't get interested in any of the characters. Perhaps it's just this specific book, as I remember reading a few Victoria Holts when I was younger, usually in my parent's Reader's Digest Condensed books. Or maybe it was Mary Higgins Clark that I'm thinking of....oops.
Anyhow. I DNF'ed this one. I love the idea of a gothic tale, I just didn't care for this particular one. I did pick up a new favourite word though - PERFIDY! Which the heroine actually used in conversation.
I'm going to keep looking - I know there is a gothic out there for me. :)
I tried to read this book, I
Anyhow. I DNF'ed this one. I love the idea of a gothic tale, I just didn't care for this particular one. I did pick up a new favourite word though - PERFIDY! Which the heroine actually used in conversation.
I'm going to keep looking - I know there is a gothic out there for me. :)
May 24, 2014
Easy read. Engaging as are all V. Holt books.
But the verbal sparring between the heroine and hero was too long and got really boring, really fast. This guy has no redeeming characteristics. He's a slimy, stalking, would-be rapist of the heroine and she finds him stimulating?
I just kept thinking "why doesn't she put an end to this or find another job at another school? This guy is clearly a stalker."
The only thing he does to show any humanity or decency is chase after and find his niece prior to her being murdered by the scamming murderer she eloped with.
I guess it's supposed to appeal to women who have rape fantasies but for me I found it pretty repulsive. I also think it's really dated--this would have probably been a lot more acceptable in the 1960's.
But the verbal sparring between the heroine and hero was too long and got really boring, really fast. This guy has no redeeming characteristics. He's a slimy, stalking, would-be rapist of the heroine and she finds him stimulating?
I just kept thinking "why doesn't she put an end to this or find another job at another school? This guy is clearly a stalker."
The only thing he does to show any humanity or decency is chase after and find his niece prior to her being murdered by the scamming murderer she eloped with.
I guess it's supposed to appeal to women who have rape fantasies but for me I found it pretty repulsive. I also think it's really dated--this would have probably been a lot more acceptable in the 1960's.
November 29, 2018
Engaging Victorian Romance with a Mystery
This is the story of Cordelia Grant, raised by her beloved Aunt Patty when her missionary parents died in Africa. Aunt Patty was a joy to live with. She ran a school for girls that Cordelia was educated to one day take over. But events led to another route and Cordelia ends up teaching at a different school.
According to legend, a girl will see her future husband at the time of the hunter's moon. When she was still in Germany where she had gone to a school to be “finished”, Cordelia meets a handsome stranger who told her he was Edward Compton. She later learns that the young man of that name died 20 years ago.
Meanwhile, while teaching at the new school, she meets the landlord, Sir Jason Verringer, a wealthy, compelling man about whom swirl rumors of his having murdered his wife. And he wants Cordelia for his next wife.
Holt does a wonderful job of bringing Cordelia’s world to life. Told in the first person, we are only ever in Cordelia’s head so we feel her emotions. She is a wise young woman, discerning others’ intent. She deals well with her students and the determined Sir Jason though she finds him intriguing. As always with Holt’s stories, there is mystery. Whatever happened to Edward, the man to whom she was drawn like no other?
If you like Victoria Holt, you’ll enjoy this one.
This is the story of Cordelia Grant, raised by her beloved Aunt Patty when her missionary parents died in Africa. Aunt Patty was a joy to live with. She ran a school for girls that Cordelia was educated to one day take over. But events led to another route and Cordelia ends up teaching at a different school.
According to legend, a girl will see her future husband at the time of the hunter's moon. When she was still in Germany where she had gone to a school to be “finished”, Cordelia meets a handsome stranger who told her he was Edward Compton. She later learns that the young man of that name died 20 years ago.
Meanwhile, while teaching at the new school, she meets the landlord, Sir Jason Verringer, a wealthy, compelling man about whom swirl rumors of his having murdered his wife. And he wants Cordelia for his next wife.
Holt does a wonderful job of bringing Cordelia’s world to life. Told in the first person, we are only ever in Cordelia’s head so we feel her emotions. She is a wise young woman, discerning others’ intent. She deals well with her students and the determined Sir Jason though she finds him intriguing. As always with Holt’s stories, there is mystery. Whatever happened to Edward, the man to whom she was drawn like no other?
If you like Victoria Holt, you’ll enjoy this one.
September 14, 2013
I couldn't finish this. It was boring. It took too long for things to pick up. The pace was horrible. The hero and heroine didn't meet until like 30% and the fact that she suspected him of killing his wife and couldn't stand his guts didn't give me hope. I don't even know how that mysterious guy she met in the beginning in the forest is going to play into the story, but I honestly don't care because I lost interest. I'd rather read other readers reviews and find out. Sad, I know.
February 25, 2024
I have read a lot of Victoria Holt books over the years and sadly this one disappointed me. I enjoyed the ending and the big twist that happened. Victoria Holt is a master at romantic suspense and I do for the most part really enjoy her books. I did find this book dragged a bit though and I had to push through. There was also a scene in the book that made me angry. First of all this book was written in the 1980s even though it was set further back in time so there really is no excuse for this scene. There is an incident of sexual assault that is glossed over and deemed ok because nothing actually happened. The main character, Cordelia, injured herself and then the man was more concerned with her injury then carrying out the rape. However she justifies it and makes it ok for him to still be a love interest because she thinks to herself that maybe she did want it to happen. I know this book was written a long time ago and the author has now passed but sexual assault should never be justified. I will continue to read her books but I hope future readers know that even though a book is a romance, sexual assault should never be romanticized.
September 23, 2007
I enjoyed reading this Victoria Holt -- I hadnt read her books in a long time. I suppose growing up on her books gave me my love of mystery that is fun to read (I can't handle a boring mystery novel to this day!)
This was a good one -- one of her classics I would say. I had forgotten her characters -- some of them are a little outrageous. Enjoy!
Also, I dont remember if her other books could be called gothic, but this one has a true gothic setting. I can see how The Thirteenth Tale is reminiscent of this type of book.
This was a good one -- one of her classics I would say. I had forgotten her characters -- some of them are a little outrageous. Enjoy!
Also, I dont remember if her other books could be called gothic, but this one has a true gothic setting. I can see how The Thirteenth Tale is reminiscent of this type of book.
June 25, 2022
Story with enormous potential ruined by writing so bad it might have come from the pen of a first-time, unedited teenaged author. I wanted to like this book; I've rarely if ever been so disappointed.
unread
July 17, 2023Nothing wrong with this, honestly...I'm just in the mood for a grittier historical. Returning it to the unread pile for some nebulous future date. :)
September 14, 2021
This book is quite a controversial Holt, but the atmospheric school setting and homely, humorous touches that lighten the Gothic creepiness won me over. I truly didn’t know the solution to the mystery until the last page.
I agree that the hero is quite brutish, and the romance isn’t terribly convincing. But as romantic suspense, with a touch of explained supernatural, it works. Unsettling in a good way. Imagine if VC Andrews was a decent-to-excellent writer of batshit Gothic.
I agree that the hero is quite brutish, and the romance isn’t terribly convincing. But as romantic suspense, with a touch of explained supernatural, it works. Unsettling in a good way. Imagine if VC Andrews was a decent-to-excellent writer of batshit Gothic.
June 14, 2025
Oh my.
UGH!
I read this when I was young, 15 or 16 I'd guess. I remember kind of liking it, but only remembering the future husband appearing part. I didn't remember the absolute lack of love, chemistry, or anything else dreamy about the hero and heroine. I also didn't remember the incredible amount of melodrama. I ended up entirely skimming this and shutting it with disgust.
No thanks.
UGH!
I read this when I was young, 15 or 16 I'd guess. I remember kind of liking it, but only remembering the future husband appearing part. I didn't remember the absolute lack of love, chemistry, or anything else dreamy about the hero and heroine. I also didn't remember the incredible amount of melodrama. I ended up entirely skimming this and shutting it with disgust.
No thanks.
November 13, 2015
When I was around 16, my mom gave me a book called Tregaron's Daughter, a gothic romance novel set in the early 20th century. My socks were just about knocked clean off by how amazing I found the entire story--the drama of it, the mystery and action, the slow but elaborate complex buildup, with a thin slice of romance to tie it all together. Not only that, but I was pleasantly surprised that by all people, it was my mother's recommendation that lead me to the story. While reminiscing about my warm regards to that story recently, I decided to delve more into the gothic/romance genre, and the Time of the Hunter's Moon made its appearance on my bookshelves.
Unfortunately, Victoria Holt in no way managed to make a dent in my lofty and (probably extremely exaggerated over the years) expectations. The story starts off interestingly enough--the painted backdrop of mystery in the mountains of Switzerland, the lovely character depictions, and then a switch in location to an abandoned abbey with a seeminly heartless lord living nearby, who naturally becomes infatuated with our heroine. No story would be complete without a mystery, and Hunter's Moon did take a stab at that.
It's too bad I had a notion where the whole story was going by midway through. I also found most of the conversations between characters wooden at best: especially between our heroine and "mystery man #2." Not only that, but one pinnacle moment in the story totally ruined it for me--it's 2015, and while I understand that some of the action was necessary to keep up the "image" of one character, the method of choice just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did manage to chug the rest of the way through, but by the big resolution I was just skimming.
Ah well. I'm not giving up just yet--perhaps I just set my sights on the wrong book for now.
Unfortunately, Victoria Holt in no way managed to make a dent in my lofty and (probably extremely exaggerated over the years) expectations. The story starts off interestingly enough--the painted backdrop of mystery in the mountains of Switzerland, the lovely character depictions, and then a switch in location to an abandoned abbey with a seeminly heartless lord living nearby, who naturally becomes infatuated with our heroine. No story would be complete without a mystery, and Hunter's Moon did take a stab at that.
It's too bad I had a notion where the whole story was going by midway through. I also found most of the conversations between characters wooden at best: especially between our heroine and "mystery man #2." Not only that, but one pinnacle moment in the story totally ruined it for me--it's 2015, and while I understand that some of the action was necessary to keep up the "image" of one character, the method of choice just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did manage to chug the rest of the way through, but by the big resolution I was just skimming.
Ah well. I'm not giving up just yet--perhaps I just set my sights on the wrong book for now.
March 21, 2021
Despite being wonderfully written, as per the usual with Holt's works, I was extremely disappointed by this book. Cordelia Grant is one of the worst heroines I have ever read. Which surprised me since she started out rather sensible with a no-nonsense attitude. But there was absolutely no real chemistry, or love, between her and the "dashing" hero, Jason Verringer.
The minor characters were the ones that made the book for me; especially Cordelia's Aunt Patty. She was delightful, funny, and I enjoyed the way she viewed the world. Being raised by such a wonderful woman, you would assume that, Cordelia would be more in tune with her own self-worth.
For those who are unfamiliar with, Eleanor Alice Burford's works (Victoria Holt is one of her many pen names), please do not be deterred from her other books. She has written over two hundred books across several genres. There was bound to be one that fell short.
The minor characters were the ones that made the book for me; especially Cordelia's Aunt Patty. She was delightful, funny, and I enjoyed the way she viewed the world. Being raised by such a wonderful woman, you would assume that, Cordelia would be more in tune with her own self-worth.
For those who are unfamiliar with, Eleanor Alice Burford's works (Victoria Holt is one of her many pen names), please do not be deterred from her other books. She has written over two hundred books across several genres. There was bound to be one that fell short.
March 13, 2013
I was really disappointed with Ms Holt. This book was a bit of a challenge to get through.
I really liked the "Forest Fantasy", it had a lot of potential but to get to the end was almost painful. It just dragged.
Aunt Patty and Violet definitely created the most charming environment, and I could see the surroundings vividly in my mind. That was the positive.
The first thing I didn't like was Teresa. She was a needy, pathetic, meddling nuisance, and I found it strange that a teacher was allowed to have a student at her home as it violates a few rules.
I also didn't like Cordelia's constant rebuffs to Jason Verringer's advances; the reader knows she wants him. I don't know why she insists on behaving so uptight, even against her own impulses. I was impressed with the twist at the end about the maid but why did we have to suffer through so much of Teresa and the holidays?
I really liked the "Forest Fantasy", it had a lot of potential but to get to the end was almost painful. It just dragged.
Aunt Patty and Violet definitely created the most charming environment, and I could see the surroundings vividly in my mind. That was the positive.
The first thing I didn't like was Teresa. She was a needy, pathetic, meddling nuisance, and I found it strange that a teacher was allowed to have a student at her home as it violates a few rules.
I also didn't like Cordelia's constant rebuffs to Jason Verringer's advances; the reader knows she wants him. I don't know why she insists on behaving so uptight, even against her own impulses. I was impressed with the twist at the end about the maid but why did we have to suffer through so much of Teresa and the holidays?
July 7, 2014
The Time of the Hunter's Moon was the first Victoria Holt novel I ever read, and it remains my favourite.
The heroine, Cordelia Grant, is an educated and spirited young woman who actually has a career (in an era when many women didn't) and the hero is her intellectual match. He starts off rather arrogant and dastardly but does reform by the end and remains charismatic and attractive throughout.
Even if on the cover art of my copy he looks a bit like Terry Wogan!
Fans of Victoria Holt will enjoy all the usual touches here: the mysterious glamourous ex mistress of the hero, plenty of danger, strange legends, secrets from the past that need to be revealed.
All it all it's a great story, not just a great romance. There's so much to enjoy here.
The heroine, Cordelia Grant, is an educated and spirited young woman who actually has a career (in an era when many women didn't) and the hero is her intellectual match. He starts off rather arrogant and dastardly but does reform by the end and remains charismatic and attractive throughout.
Even if on the cover art of my copy he looks a bit like Terry Wogan!
Fans of Victoria Holt will enjoy all the usual touches here: the mysterious glamourous ex mistress of the hero, plenty of danger, strange legends, secrets from the past that need to be revealed.
All it all it's a great story, not just a great romance. There's so much to enjoy here.
March 21, 2012
I read all of Victoria Holt's novels during my pre-teen years before I started high school. YA didn't exist back then. We had Sweet Valley, Babysitters club, etc. but not much to fill the gap from middle school to high school.
I forgot some of her books but this one stands out in my mind. I recall mocking the love interest after his attempted rape. "You hate me that much?!?"
I read this book no later than 1994 so please don't hold it against me if that scene was in another Holt novel.
I had rewritten Jane Eyre scenes back then where Rochester's arm grew back. There was no Edward Cullen to snark on back in the barren waste land of the mid '90s. {Little did I know Angel was just a couple of years away on Buffy to satisfy teen need for silly melodrama.]
I forgot some of her books but this one stands out in my mind. I recall mocking the love interest after his attempted rape. "You hate me that much?!?"
I read this book no later than 1994 so please don't hold it against me if that scene was in another Holt novel.
I had rewritten Jane Eyre scenes back then where Rochester's arm grew back. There was no Edward Cullen to snark on back in the barren waste land of the mid '90s. {Little did I know Angel was just a couple of years away on Buffy to satisfy teen need for silly melodrama.]
January 27, 2011
Wow. I loved this one right out of the gate and read 40 pages when I should have been in bed. :)
It's a reread for me since I read it eons ago but can't remember anything really about it other than a certain familiarity as I read. See my review here:
http://gothicked.blogspot.com/2011/01...
It's a reread for me since I read it eons ago but can't remember anything really about it other than a certain familiarity as I read. See my review here:
http://gothicked.blogspot.com/2011/01...
September 11, 2012
The best part was when he traps her in a room and she breaks the window pane with her fists. It was fantastic! The ending had great suspense. I could not help jumping to conclusions and figuring out what the great mystery was on my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
March 1, 2014
It was great to revisit an author I'd grown to love in my teens! If you want complex plots and twists and turns you won't find them but if you want a good lighthearted story with a touch of romance you'll be satisfied and want to read another!
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