The House of Velvet and Glass

The House of Velvet and Glass follows Sibyl Allston, a woman living in 1915 Boston who lost her mother and sister on the Titanic three years prior. She seeks answers about their deaths through séances and scrying in crystal balls while caring for her merchant father and wayward brother Harlan. The narrative moves between 1915 Boston's upper society, the opium dens of Shanghai in the 1860s, and the final moments aboard the Titanic. When an old flame returns to Sibyl's life as a psychology researcher studying supernatural phenomena, she must confront both science and spiritualism in her quest for understanding. Past and present intertwine as Sibyl navigates grief, family obligations, and romance against the backdrop of a changing world on the brink of WWI. Through séances, visions, and family history, she searches for meaning in tragedy while questioning the boundaries between this world and the next. This historical novel explores themes of fate versus free will, tradition versus progress, and the lengths people go to maintain control in times of uncertainty and loss.

Readers note the book's slower pace and focus on character development over plot action. The detailed historical elements and atmosphere of 1915 Boston receive frequent mentions in reviews. Readers appreciated: - The paranormal elements woven into historical fiction - Period-accurate descriptions of Boston society - Complex mother-daughter relationships - The Titanic segments Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Too much time spent on secondary characters - Supernatural aspects feel underdeveloped - Ending disappoints some readers One reviewer stated "The seance scenes captivated me but the story meandered too much between them." Another noted "Strong start and finish but sags noticeably in the middle 200 pages." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (150+ ratings) The book scores higher with readers who prefer character-driven historical fiction over supernatural thrillers.

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🔮 Though the novel is set in 1915 Boston, author Katherine Howe drew inspiration from her own family's experience aboard the Titanic – her great-aunt and great-grandmother both survived the sinking. 📚 The practice of scrying (crystal-ball gazing) featured in the book gained massive popularity during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, particularly after the significant loss of life in WWI. 🌊 The detailed descriptions of the Titanic scenes were based on actual survivor accounts and historical documents, including the ship's deck plans and passenger lists. 🏛️ The Boston described in the novel accurately reflects the city's social hierarchy during the early 20th century, when Beacon Hill was home to the wealthy elite known as "Boston Brahmins." 💫 Author Katherine Howe is a historian specializing in Colonial America and New England witchcraft, and teaches at Cornell University. Her expertise in historical witchcraft trials influenced the supernatural elements in the novel.