For the first ever Hex + Muse Book Club, we’re stepping inside The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, a world of ancient prophecies, secret passages, and spectacularly bad decisions.
First published in 1764 and widely regarded as the first Gothic novel, this short but dramatic tale begins with a doomed wedding and a giant helmet falling from the sky. What follows is a tangle of dangerous ambition, family secrets, and supernatural happenings, as the castle’s ruler fights to preserve his dynasty at any cost.
Join us as we explore the book that helped launch Gothic fiction, where the past refuses to stay buried and family drama reaches haunting new heights.
Where to read the book for free
Want to read along with Hex + Muse Book Club? The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole is available free through Project Gutenberg. Read it online or download an ebook, no purchase or subscription needed.
📖 Read or download The Castle of Otranto for free
Hex & Muse is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my deepest respects to their Elders past and present - and to all First Nations people, whose stories and spirits continue to shape this land.
Follow along for more folklore, magic, and mythic musings:
Instagram: @hexandmuse
Website: www.hexandmuse.com
Hex & Muse is a spellbound journal of folklore, magic, art, and the sacred feminine - told through cinematic storytelling and whispered histories.
From my altar to yours… thank you for listening.
