Review of Forever Twilight

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Forever Twilight" by Jerry Lambert.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Forever Twilight by Jerry Lambert is a historical, gothic, horror, romance novel that follows different characters who live and work in a place called Bridlewood House. All of these characters are different in many ways. What separates them the most is their class. Some are rich, and they live in this house. Others are poor, and they work in this house. There seems to be more about this house than what meets the eye, and all of these characters learn in their own ways what that is. The author is described just as a writer who resides in Las Vegas with his husband.

George McCambridge is a rich landowner whose wealth mostly comes from farming, especially sugarcane. His status enabled him to build the Bridlewood House, a place where he lived with his family and was able to boast about his wealth, showcase it, and mingle with other rich people like him. Charlotte has grown up around Anatole and Emily, people who aren’t as rich as her. It wasn’t frowned upon when she was young, but now she has grown, and it is time to assume her station in life and fraternise with her peers. Anatole lives with his drunk father and mother, who also works at Bridlewood House. Emily is trying to find her way, too, in these unstable times.

Anatole was not eager at first to come and work at the Bridlewood House, but his mother convinced him. There are things he sees, learns, and realises here about the McCambridges, the people that visit them, the Bridlewood House, and himself. What are those things? Is there anything sinister going on in this house? Or is it just a class struggle nothing more? Will Anatole succeed and chase his dreams?

The book raised more questions than that. Those were the few at the top of my head. There was just a lot going on in this book that would leave you shocked, scared, worried, and concerned. The author wrote a book that is different indeed. It sets itself apart from the rest because of many things. But the first thing that you might have noticed after reading the first paragraph of this review was that it mixed a lot of genres. I couldn’t decide on a specific one because I thought it transcended all of them to produce this one narrative that is spellbinding and enchanting.

Let’s start with the characters. The development that went into them was commendable. There were not that many characters. The book mostly focused on Charlotte, Anatole, Emily, and Mini. Other supporting characters also played a huge role in moving the story forward, especially Anatole’s father. It turned out that he wasn’t just a drunk who didn’t take care of his family because of poor choices. Something led him to that, and when it was revealed, a lot of things started adding up and making sense. So you can say even supporting characters had an impact on the story. How characters were introduced was seamless. It didn’t feel like a routine.

The descriptions were not excessive to the point you felt like everything was told to you, no. The author managed to strike a balance to make sure the reader had an image of what was happening but still worked to figure out what was what to make the book engaging and gripping. That way, I felt involved as a reader and enjoyed every scene, no matter how small it was. The dialogue was OK. It wasn’t impressive but not bad either. I loved that the author made sure it stayed relevant to the times of the events depicted, and that was before the American Civil War. This guaranteed authenticity and made everything realistic. The narration eased all of this forward without feeling boring.

The plot wasn’t something spectacular. It had its ‘Aha-moments’ here and there, especially at the end, but all along it was fine. What I didn’t like about the book was the many errors I came across. They were distracting and in some places outright disturbing me. My concentration was lost on many occasions because I was trying to make sense of what I was reading or noticing typos. I recommend the book to go another round of editing to make it perfect.

With everything I have said above, the rating fitting for this book is one of four out of five stars. The errors were the reason for my deducting of one star. I would recommend the book to people who love historical fiction. People who love romance should not be shy to read it as they will feel catered for. People who care about the LGBTQIA+ representation in their stories will find this one interesting. It’s for mature audiences, starting from young adults upwards.

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Forever Twilight
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[NetMassimo]

A novel that blends different genres and includes a diverse group of characters can be really intriguing. It's not exactly the type of story I look for but this one seems well-constructed with just the need for proper proofreading. Thank you for your great review!

[Leslie coccia]

This book seems well written and like a fun mystery, especially because it doesn’t give everything away to the reader. Awesome! Good review!

[Louis Donald]

The mix of historical, gothic, horror, and romance elements is intriguing. The class struggle, mysterious happenings, and the tension within Bridlewood House make it sound like a unique and suspenseful read. I’m curious about how all the different threads come together, so I’d definitely consider reading it.

[Pearl Flourish]

“Forever Twilight” by Jerry Lambert masterfully intertwines gothic horror and romance, delving into class disparities within the enigmatic Bridlewood House. The well-developed characters and balanced descriptions create an engaging narrative, though some editing issues slightly detract from the experience.