Love this! I could tell Herman was bad news from the beginning, however tragic the ending. 👀 I think the highest craft compliment I can give is that I could do a paper on this story. However, I’m glad I don’t have to and can just listen and enjoy. ☺️💛
I’m not done listening yet. However, the house sounds exactly like the old farmhouse I grew up in. And I LOL’d outloud and said ‘tetanus!’ at the mother’s reprimand about nails- before she even said it. We had tetanus shots every year, and sometimes an extra one if something really rusty went deep. A childhood memory of most farm kids. 🙃
Herman gets to feel his heartbeat again for about three pages and then trades it for Maisy. That's the whole story. The cruelest part isn't the death. It's Greta on the vanity, waiting to miss her together. A century in an attic and this is what love looks like in the end.
Noooope, I was promised creepy attic dolls and then somehow adopted two doomed porcelain weirdos against my will. Gg me. Herman making the worst loving choice, Greta losing him, and Maisy’s mum keeping Janey near her just broke my tiny gothic brain a bit. I’m blaming both of you for making haunted-doll sadness weirdly cozy, actually.
This story accomplished something I always admire in gothic fiction: it made me care deeply about the characters before revealing the full tragedy.
The attic scenes were beautifully atmospheric, but the relationship between Herman and Greta became the true center of the story. Their quiet conversations across decades of darkness felt tender, lonely, and deeply human.
One line that lingered with me was Herman's reflection: "I think the hunger was the best part. Not the bread. The wanting."
What a profound observation. It speaks to desire, hope, longing, and the things that give meaning to our lives.
The arrival of Maisy transformed the story in unexpected ways. What began as a gothic tale evolved into something that felt like a meditation on parenthood, devotion, and the sacrifices we make for those we love. By the final chapters, my heart broke for all of them: Maisy, her mother, Greta, and especially Herman.
And that ending. The image of Maisy's mother placing Janey carefully on the vanity and saying:
"We can miss her together." was absolutely devastating in the most beautiful way. A perfect gothic ending—melancholy, bittersweet, and filled with enduring love. Bravo... Monica
This was whimsy and sad and beautiful, great job!
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much! ❤️
Beautiful
Thank you. 🖤
Thank you.
Love this! I could tell Herman was bad news from the beginning, however tragic the ending. 👀 I think the highest craft compliment I can give is that I could do a paper on this story. However, I’m glad I don’t have to and can just listen and enjoy. ☺️💛
Thank you very much.
It hit the sweet spot of percentages of things needed for a great story/tale💛
😁🤗
I really appreciate it. Thank you so much! 🤗❤️
I’m not done listening yet. However, the house sounds exactly like the old farmhouse I grew up in. And I LOL’d outloud and said ‘tetanus!’ at the mother’s reprimand about nails- before she even said it. We had tetanus shots every year, and sometimes an extra one if something really rusty went deep. A childhood memory of most farm kids. 🙃
Thank you so much for listening. Labyrinthia Mythweaver did such a wonderful job with the voiceover.
I’m not a huge fan of collabs, but this one put the bar really high. 💛
Thank you! I was impressed at how well our voices blended. ☺️
Me, too! I’d never have known it was a collab. Fantastic work!
Thank you. That is very much so appreciated.
❤️🤗 Thank you so much for listening.
Herman gets to feel his heartbeat again for about three pages and then trades it for Maisy. That's the whole story. The cruelest part isn't the death. It's Greta on the vanity, waiting to miss her together. A century in an attic and this is what love looks like in the end.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for reading Marcello.
God damn this was heartbreaking and addictive at the same time. Brilliant work.
Thank you so much for reading, Seb! ❤️
Thank you Seb.
There was such an initial playfulness to it but then that ending was a gut punch. Now you have me feeling bad for creepy dolls.
Thank you! ❤️
Thank you so much for reading.
Unsettling and melancholic— beautiful work
Thank you so much, Aaliya!
Thank you Aaliya.
I was expecting to have the pants scared off me but that was actually quite lovely. Nice one!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading.
Wow. Love is funny. Herman wanted to help, twice. He made it worse, twice.
Tough read.
Thank you very much for reading James. And so true, love is definitely a funny fickle thing. Especially in Herman’s case.
Thank you, James. This was a heavy one to write. Thank you for reading.
Super!
Thank you Ginny.
Thank you!
"The best places were already taken."
They were indeed.
Thank you for reading.
Oh, this was SO good!!
Thank you very much for reading.
Thank you so much! Appreciate you reading. ❤️
Noooope, I was promised creepy attic dolls and then somehow adopted two doomed porcelain weirdos against my will. Gg me. Herman making the worst loving choice, Greta losing him, and Maisy’s mum keeping Janey near her just broke my tiny gothic brain a bit. I’m blaming both of you for making haunted-doll sadness weirdly cozy, actually.
Thank you for reading, Asuka! I'm glad you loved them. 😆❤️
Haha... Thank you so much for reading.
This story accomplished something I always admire in gothic fiction: it made me care deeply about the characters before revealing the full tragedy.
The attic scenes were beautifully atmospheric, but the relationship between Herman and Greta became the true center of the story. Their quiet conversations across decades of darkness felt tender, lonely, and deeply human.
One line that lingered with me was Herman's reflection: "I think the hunger was the best part. Not the bread. The wanting."
What a profound observation. It speaks to desire, hope, longing, and the things that give meaning to our lives.
The arrival of Maisy transformed the story in unexpected ways. What began as a gothic tale evolved into something that felt like a meditation on parenthood, devotion, and the sacrifices we make for those we love. By the final chapters, my heart broke for all of them: Maisy, her mother, Greta, and especially Herman.
And that ending. The image of Maisy's mother placing Janey carefully on the vanity and saying:
"We can miss her together." was absolutely devastating in the most beautiful way. A perfect gothic ending—melancholy, bittersweet, and filled with enduring love. Bravo... Monica
Thank you so much for reading .
I can read your comment all day it makes me so happy. Thank you.
I am so glad.
Thank you so much, Monica. I really appreciate you taking the time to read it so deeply. ❤️