This was a pretty good Gothic suspense novel, very Jane Eyre-ish. But the ending was too abrupt for me. ( )

I liked it much better the second time around.

This old-fashioned gothic was so gothic it almost oozed gothic. Barbara Michaels does gothic stuff but rarely historical stuff like this. Not saying I prefer it over her normal books, but it was a groovy change I dug.

I totally hearted Gavin Hamilton. He was serious, scarred, flawed, tall, rich, oozed goth. Damaris was a good heroine who used her brain, stayed loyal, and - even if she peeked around the corners a little too hesitantly - decently fierce with a sassy tongue when it was warranted.

Besides gothic mystery of the main tale, the unwinding love tale captivated yours truly completely. Side characters like the vicious daughter, dingy maid, and funny suitor made it that more delightful.

The villain was someone I kind of guessed, although I wasn't sure until the end. Even so, it made a twisted, good story to read. There were whispers among the townsfolk about a missing wife, which all added to the charm. Twists and turns kept me on my toes for this one, not just in the story’s revelation, but also the heart pitter-patter of the mains.

The ending was a little too abrupt, but the story worked great overall. Exciting story with some mystery, a heroic love story that leaves a good feeling when the last page has been read. The Master of Blacktower is perfect when in the mood for a classic gothic accompanied with a crumbling castle isolated on a cliff in a foreign time that held as much mystery as it promised.
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This is a terrific Gothic romance. It has all the right elements: a dark, scarred hero, a remote mansion, a dead wife, an invalid child, and an innocent secretary/governess. Add in well-detailed antagonists and background characters and it is a worthy light read.

If you like Gothic romances, you'll love this book. If you enjoy Barbara Michaels's novels, you'll like this book at the very least. ( )

A fast-paced romantic thriller with strong Jane Eyre undertones, The Master of Blacktower is an entertaining though not all together satisfying read.

This was my first Barbara Michaels book, and though I had some problems with it I will probably try some of her others as well. My biggest problem was that the heroine, Damaris, is a bit of a sop for most of the book. Yeah, it takes place sometime in the Victorian era (it's not quite clear when exactly) and yeah, it was written in the 60s, but I was hoping for a bit more agency and motivation from the her as a the leading woman. As it was, she inexplicably falls in love with Hamilton even though he is kind of a prick to her, and then allows herself to be strung along treated badly.

Still, Michaels can obviously spin a good story with twists and turns, and I'm hoping that some of her other heroines will make more of an impression on me. ( )

Don't expect a scary supernatural novel. This was her first and has more in common with what was called a gothic romance back in the 1960s, except that her heroine is made of sterner stuff than the villains would like. It's set in 1853 and most of the action takes place in Scotland. The widowed master of Black Tower is scarred, and not just in the flesh. The reason is not pleasant. Neither is his 16 year-old daughter, a crippled brat. Damaris needs a job; however, and cataloging and arranging Gavin Hamilton's library is preferable to marrying her cousin Randall, whose mother greatly dislikes her .
A handsome young Sir Andrew enters the scene, as does his beautiful sister, Lady Mary. Which man will capture Damaris' heart? Or will cousin Randall get lucky after all? Which woman will take Mr. Hamilton's fancy? Will Annabelle's personality improve? Why is someone trying to kill Damaris? How did Mrs. Hamilton die?

Expect danger and action. This may be early Michaels, but it's not dull. (What a pity that the cover artist isn't listed because I really like the green tower and the lightning.) ( )