Book Review: The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis

A few thoughts before it comes out in June.

TLDR: this debut novel is phenomonal and you should pre-order it.

Recall the intimate relationship of strange sisters and the distrust of women that exists in We Have Always Lived In The Castle. Now mix in a British village in the 18th century, a deep fear of difference and a series of unusual events. That's Xenobe Purvis' debut novel: The Hounding. And it is brilliant.

I don't say this lightly! People who have followed me for a while know I am a big DNFer. No chance here of that. The Hounding is not only compulsively readable and highly original but every element - dialogue, plot, world building- is a master work in execution.

The 1700s are The Age of Enlightenment but for whom, exactly? Not common villagers whose education steadies at primary school level. They see unusually large fish and think “monster!”. Purvis’ consideration of mob mentality and misogyny during this time period is a clever choice. The pacing of the book is exciting (be ready to stay up late!) and Purvis' level of research and attention to detail (gah....the character names!) is superb. The softly compelling characters are also a delight. "Softly" because there is not a single character around whom the story orbits. Rather, the reader gets the feel for several...and not just the sisters. The result is a fascinating glimpse into the minds of humans who take desperate actions. Listen: there are no dips, no extra words, no characters who don't advance the story and no end to the drama. The Hounding hits every.single.note.

I highly recommend The Hounding to anyone who loves original stories. But especially to readers who dig: historical fiction, the weird+strange and defiant women.

The Hounding comes out June 24, 2025. Pre-order!