Katy Hays’s spellbinding debut is about Ann Stilwell who, pulled by the hand of fate, ends up as a curatorial assistant at an opulent and otherworldly gothic museum in New York known as The Cloisters. When we first meet Ann she is shy, unsure of herself and naive to the ways of the world, but she is no stranger to grief.
As she is drawn into the secretive and hermetic labyrinth that is The Cloisters, Ann transforms. Maybe it is the attention and trust of Patrick, the head curator who plucked her from obscurity, or the lustful gaze of lawless Leo, the poisonous plant gardener, or perhaps it can be attributed to her newfound friendship with the flawlessly posh and clever Rachel who takes Ann under her wing. It is testament to the author and her outstanding characterization that by the end of the novel, Ann is a different person entirely.
The Cloisters is a luxurious slow burn mystery meant to be savored. I was enraptured by the dark academia overtones and the way the plot hinges on the study of Renaissance esoterica -namely divination- in the form of astrology and tarot.
And then there’s the drop-dead gorgeous setting of The Cloisters itself, replete with extraordinary works of medieval art, a lavish library with serpentine stacks of arcane tomes, and finally, the lush gardens, overflowing with the intoxicating aroma of lavender and lemon balm.
I was equally intrigued by Hays’s contemplation of fate vs. free will. Where does one end and the other begin? Renaissance life was marked by great cultural change and uncertainty. It is little wonder that the people were transfixed by occult fortune-telling. The desire to know one’s future is ultimately a defense against the chaos of the universe, providing an illusion of control. I appreciated how the theme of Lady Fortuna was layered throughout the story and ultimately pivotal to the outcome.
The Cloisters is an enticing character study with deliciously dark moodiness and an ending that will leave you bewildered in the best way possible. If you’re looking for something subtle, mystical, brooding, tragic and intimate, then meet your bookish match. I wouldn’t be surprised if The Cloisters ends up on my 2023 favorites shelf!
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
