The Cloisters, billed as ‘The Secret History meets Ninth House‘, is the debut novel from Art History professor Katy Hays.

Now, if I had a pound for every time I’ve been picked up a book that promises to be ‘the next The Secret History‘, I’d…well, I’d almost certainly have enough to buy the recently released hardback anniversary edition of Donna Tartt’s acclaimed novel. Fortunately, however, The Cloisters more than lives up to its illustrious namesakes.

Set within the titular Cloisters – the branch of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated exclusively to the art of the Middle Ages – the novel follows Ann Stilwell, a recent graduate of a small liberal arts college, as she is plunged head-first into a world of academic rivalries and dangerous secrets.

Desperate to escape the humdrum rhythms of provincial life – and the tragic death of her beloved father – Ann is thrilled to have been accepted for a summer internship at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. When a mix-up on arrival leads to her being re-assigned to The Cloisters, she is drawn into the close-knit circle that surrounds the museum’s curator, Patrick Roland, and his research into the history of Tarot. But as Ann’s relationships with her colleagues – the enigmatic Rachel Mondray and handsome gardener Leo – develops, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of a dangerous game of power and ambition: one that is only complicated when she discovers the hidden key to unlocking their research. Is Ann’s fate tied to the cards she has been dealt? Or can she break free of the fortune they have foretold and shape her own future?

Moreish and beguiling, The Cloisters provides all the dark academia feels. Toxic friendships, professional rivalries, candlelit rituals, and Gothic architecture abound. There’s even a poison garden that, mild spoiler alert, turns out to be exactly as deadly as the concept suggests.

Ann is a pleasingly unreliable narrator who, over the course of the novel, appears to follow the standard trajectory from naïve small-town girl to assured city slicker under the tutelage of the charismatic Rachel Mondray. Some shocking revelations towards the novel’s end, however, made me rethink Ann as a considerably more complex character than she first appears. Equally complex are Rachel, Leo, and Patrick, Ann’s colleagues at The Cloisters. All are playing dangerous games but to what ends? And can Ann navigate between them to fulfil her own dreams of success?

Katy Hays has absolutely nailed the claustrophobic, ‘Knives Out’ side of academia and does an excellent job of portraying the disadvantage that Ann – a first generation PhD student – has in navigating some of the more unwritten codes and rules that govern the ivory tower she has determined to climb. Given that everyone is, essentially, out for themselves, none of the characters in The Cloisters are especially likeable if you examine them closely. As with The Secret History, however, they are all deeply charismatic and, before long, I could not only understand why Ann wanted ‘in’ on their club, I found myself willing her to succeed in her quest to reinvent herself in their mould.

There’s so many different layers to The Cloisters that it’s a hard novel to sum up in a review – especially when I don’t want to give away any spoilers! Safe to say, however, that very little at The Cloisters is quite as it seems. Tarot and divination are a running theme, as is the related debate about fate and free will. As such, The Cloisters is a novel that touches upon history, art, philosophy, and literature, although it wears its learning lightly and gradually draws the reader into thinking about complex, age-old questions.

Combining a Gothic mystery with a compellingly dark coming-of-age tale and a dash of extremely interesting history, The Cloisters is an accomplished debut that is told with spellbinding assurance. I will, however, freely admit that the novel might as well have been labelled ‘Shelf of Unread Catnip’ because it has all the ingredients that make me love a book: modern gothic, twisty mystery, literary/historical references, dark academia feels, and unhealthy but compelling relationships. In short, The Cloisters would have had to work quite hard to make me not love it. That said, I genuinely do think this is a captivating debut and I heartily recommend it to fans of The Secret History, The Historian, Ninth House, and Babel. 

NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review. 

Dark, mysterious, the occult. Really cool book. A bonus for me as I worked in the library. Definitely great for fans of dark academia. 

Trying hard to be clever but is instead clumsy and predictable.

Fantastic dark academic vibes. From the very first page I was hooked and immediately felt the TSH energy. The history and mythical mystery alongside the drama of personal relationships with the oddest bunch of museum employees. I devoured it in one sitting. 

A rich and decadently indulgent tale of obsession, murder and the occult that’s literally dripping with the most gorgeously moody (and gothic imagery) that I genuinely couldn’t get enough of! 

I know I’ve said that a lot recently, but I’ve been on a bit of an academic mystery/thriller kick lately so quite a few of my recent reads have a gothic-y atmospheric tone that I’m completely vibing with. And Katy Hays’ The Cloisters—which is centred around a summer assistant’s deadly game of ambition in the halls (and gardens) of the New York’s titular gothic museum —has probably been my favourites so far. 

It follows Ann Stilwell, who arrives in New York ready to start her summer internship with The Metropolitan Museum of Art only to find herself reassigned to The Cloisters famous for its medieval and Renaissance collections.

It’s here that she begins her journey into the world academia—thanks to the museum’s curator, Patrick who believes Ann’s skills will be beneficial in helping with his research into the history of Tarot cards and fortune telling. Having left her past behind and eager to please her new colleagues, Ann is willing to indulge some of Patrick’s more unusual (and outlandish) theories. 

But when she discovers a lost deck of 15th-c tarot cards, Ann suddenly finds herself at the centre of a dangerous game of obsession, toxic friendships and the ruthless pursuit of power that could destroy all that she’s worked hard (and risked everything) for. 

I genuinely loved the dark and sinisterly atmospheric vibes that Katy Hays manages to create, with some incredibly decadent descriptions that had me wanting to visit New York ASAP. I was fascinated by Ann’s version of the city but, it was her heavily romanticised view of The Cloisters (and it’s vast collections) that really drew me in. It felt almost like a love letter to the world of art history and academia, (which makes sense given Hays’ background in Art History) and I think it’s because of this that it felt more tangible for me. 

Likewise, many of the characters we meet are also connected to the museum (as employees and scholars) and I loved navigating the subtleties in their roles and how each intersects in different ways. I also enjoyed delving into some of the more mundane, day-to-day tasks through the lens of someone just as new and naive (Ann) to it’s inner workings as us readers. 

Ann, our protagonist and sole POV throughout was such a complex character that I felt definitely kept her cards close to her chest, and as such lent and air of mystery that kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. Her emotional journey and grief over the death of her father is what seems to spur her decision to leave the small college town she grew up in and I found her need to reinvent herself (into someone more confident and easy going) quite relatable, despite my reservations on her reliability as a narrator. 

Rachel (who acts as a sort of mentor and aspirational figure for Ann) is the well connected, wealthy and charismatic IT girl who’s attention in Ann and their subsequent work together on an upcoming exhibition involving Tarot really spurs the suspenseful and obsessively plot twisty narrative. 

I also really enjoyed Ann’s intense flirtation/romance with The Cloisters’ gardener Leo—whose rebellious, devil may care attitude was incredibly compelling, as was his mysterious history with Patrick and Rachel. But despite all the mysterious,bad boy bravado he was probably to most up front (and honest) character of them all. 

The Pacing was a little slower than anticipated but it did help with setting up the necessary info surrounding the history of tarot and it’s importance within the plot—which I enjoyed though I wish the supernatural elements played a larger role. 

Overall, an evocative and hypnotically immersive debut that’s perfect for fans of academia based psychological thrillers or The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Also, a huge thank you to Izzie Ghaffari at Transworld/ Bantam Press for the incredible proof