I’m just not sure… for me, this was an addictive read but I’m not convinced I knew half of what was going on. However, the writing style was amazing and had me in a trance and I thought the ending was great. 

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 

Out November 1, 2022 [Thank you so much to the author for my gifted ARC!] 

 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars 

 

Ann Stilwell is a young art historian who lands a job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—only to learn that her position has been removed at the last moment. Instead, she finds herself at The Cloisters, a museum and garden filled with a staff that is seeking answers to unusual questions about tarot, fate, and divination. 

 

When I saw this book announced, I instantly knew it would be a mix of all of my favorite things—suspense, dark academia, history/culture, and just a bit of mysticism and magic. Fortunately, in the end it was all this and more. The vibes were impeccable and I loved the world of this book, which was somehow both tense and welcoming, inviting and eerie. 

 

Best of all, the writing is astoundingly beautiful, and I have no doubt that Katy Hays is going to be a massive literary star as soon as everyone gets their hands on this book. It’s everything you could want in a fall/spooky season read, and I’m so excited for the world to read it! 

 

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: dark academia; Ashley Winstead-esque vibes; art history. 

 

CW: Loss of parent/grief; drug use; murder; car accident; toxic relationships.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays is what I imagine Mary Shelley might write if she lived in the 21st century. There are elements of horror, a little romance, an eerie setting, characters that will keep you guessing, and an ending you won't see coming. But more than that, The Cloisters seems to play with a lot of the same themes that Mary Shelley did - ambition and fallibility, romanticism in nature, dangerous knowledge, secrecy, and isolation. But where Shelley writes about what makes us human (or not), Hays writes about what agency we have as humans. Do we have free will? Is anything predestined? Or is everything just fate?

A Brief Summary:

When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination. Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers’ more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

Sound intriguing? 

Come tiptoe through the hushed hallways of The Cloisters, teeming with dark academia that whispers ancient secrets from the shadows. Mysteries smolder at the edges. What begins as a slow burn will have you holding your breath as you race to the end. The Cloisters is chock full of art history, architectural delights, and occult vibes.

This was one of those books that took over my world while I was reading it - casting a thin veil of darkness and tension over everything until I was so immersed in the characters and story that I was thinking about them and what would happen next throughout the day. Even almost a week later, I'm still pondering... the secrets we all hold, the dreams we have for ourselves and how far we're willing to go to reach them. And whether any of that is our choice... or just fate.

Get ready to break out your tarot cards (I sure did)!