The Last Heir of Blackwood Library is a paranormal gothic read that had me hooked from the 1st page.

The year is 1927, Ivy Radcliffe is struggling to support herself after the decimation of her family, Her father and brother were killed in the Great War and her mother died of Influenza. Ever since their loss Ivy has been eking out a living in London. Then she receives the solicitor’s letter, She is the last of the Hayworth’s and inherits the title, Blackwood Abbey, a mysterious library and some very weird servants. Ivy leaves London for Yorkshire and her unexpected inheritance. Once there she meets the housekeeper and butler , Mr. & Mrs. Hewitt, the maid Agnes and Ralph, the mysterious chauffeur, gardener and general handyman. When Ivy meets Sir Arthur Mabry, she thinks she may have found love as well as a a fellow bibliophile.. Sir Arthur tells Ivy that Blackwood Abbey has a famous library full or rare texts and manuscripts. Ivy with much resistance from the housekeeper Mrs Hewitt opens the library and starts to categorize it’s contents, Then the weirdness starts, Ivy starts to lose time and memories, she cannot remember conversations she has had, and she starts to experience supernatural occurences, There is the legend of a monk from the time of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries, including Blackwood Abbey. The monk had an evil reputation and is said to haunt the abbey, There is also another spirit, more benevolent in nature.

Strange happenings and a malevolent ghost that are trying to control the library cause issues for Ivy, There is the possibility of love and happiness if Ivy can defeat the evil that is controlling the Blackwood Library

I enjoyed the supernatural aspects of ths book. Ivy could be a bit annoying with her passive nature at times, but then when one realizes the hold the library has over the Hayworth family and it’s heirs her behavior is better understood,

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid addition to the genre of Gothic fantasy/romance, but there's nothing especially new about this story. I found it to be basically what I expected from the start, and those expectations were consistently met all the way through the story. Personally, I wish the main character had been a consistently stronger character (I thought she was pretty wishy-washy a few times and hated that for her, but that's just personal preference), and I really wish that the book/monk/nun element had been a bigger focus of the story, rather than serving as more of a backstory so that the romance could take center stage. But again, that's just preference. The story is well-written, and I thought the romance was enjoyable, particularly as I'm not a huge romance fan, so that's a big compliment coming from me.

Ivy Radcliffe suddenly finds herself becoming the new Lady Hayworth of Blackwood Abbey. She had never heard of the place but is eager to have a place to stay and not worry about her next meal. When she arrives at the Abbey, she's met with aloof staff, grand but worn surroundings and a feeling of unease. As she explores her new holdings, she discovers an extensive library and wants to share the contents with the town. However, strange things start happening and she finds herself losing time and memories as she struggles to feel like herself and deal with a sudden new fiancé. Overall a very atmospheric book with a hint of the supernatural, but the unreliability of Ivy and her quick judgements can be a bit frustrating. Readers who like detailed settings and unreliable narrators will like this one.

I had so many hopes for this book from the title to the cover and synopsis. The air of mystery about a library locked away, the owners of the house dying far too young, it seems like a recipe for a book right up my alley and yet the further and further I got into it, the more I kept waiting for something to happen. The pacing seemed off and even when I tried explaining the book to someone, they were intrigued by my description. However, the story had it’s moments of fun but it simply felt like it kept missing the mark. All of a sudden the main character would start forgetting whole conversations and days, all of a sudden the main character is married or engaged. I wanted so much more building to happen around various aspects of the story but I never got a great deal of satisfaction. Overall, I think we have a great premise to a book that still need a bit of flushing out.

Ivy is now an heiress with a title. She is the last of the Hayworth line and she is completely clueless. She had no idea about anybody in her family owning such an estate. But, who turns this down right!?!? She takes off to Yorkshire to see her new home. But, things are not as they seem. The staff is acting strangely and she is not exactly sure what to make of this strange estate.

I have been a fan of this author for years! She is always creepy and just a tad bit magical! This book has it all! I loved this weird abbey with its hidden secrets and ghosts! The library in this book transported me every time Ivy walked in there. I could just picture it along with the dusty smell.

Now, I did feel Ivy is a bit too manufactured. She is intelligent but she just doesn’t make wise decisions. But, this was just a minor annoyance, basically, because there is Ralph. Ralph is my favorite character in this whole book. He is a mystery himself. And I would love for Hester Fox to write a book just about him.

Need a dang good historical mystery with a strange manuscript and a few ghosts to keep you company…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Hester Fox has delivered again! Her books are comfort reads to me, an autobuy every time. In this new book, Hester builds the dread slow and steady, but never without engaging the reader on the journey. It's a quiet dread, built in an old Abbey in a remote English village between the World Wars. The setting feels like a slightly gothic Downton Abbey, but with a sinister force in the library. It's difficult to say too much without spoilers, but my favorite part (in addition to her deft hand at romantic subplots) is the effects of the books on the villagers that borrow them. Such a creative idea! You'll have to read it to find out what that is. ;)

The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library by Hester Fox is a gothic tale. The author created a rich environment with the foggy moors, a shabby manor house, grim domestics, objects moving on their own, cold spots, and an ominous library. The story begins in 1927 when Ivy Radcliffe inherits Blackwood Abbey and becomes Lady Hayworth. The spiritualist movement had a resurgence in the 1920s (people who lost loved ones during the war wanted to find a way to reach them). Ivy finds herself drawn to the manor’s extensive library. The housekeeper seems determined to keep Ivy away from it, but Ivy cannot resist the libraries allure. Ivy Radcliffe is an independent, stubborn woman who is also naïve. There are times when she will stand up to someone and others when she backs down (would you sleep in a bedroom where strange things have been happening so you would not inconvenience the staff). I loved the descriptions of the library. There were some intriguing books in it. There are two potential love interests for Ivy. Ivy finds the manor houses curt driver (also gardener, handyman, and stable boy) appealing as well as a charming local aristocrat. I could have done with less of this element and less repetition regarding the two men’s attributes. We also see how the Great War affected different people. The war continues to haunt soldiers and those who were left behind. The story does move at a slower pace. The pace improves toward the end as the story reaches it climax. The author is detail oriented which is good and bad. It creates a rich atmosphere, but it does slow down the story. The book does contain mild foul language and graphic violence (fair warning). I liked the paranormal component and the mystery. There was a surprise or two. I was left with a lingering question or two at the end. I am glad that I stuck with the story and finished it (after reading the prologue, I was tempted to put the book at the bottom of my TBR pile). The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library is a spooky story with an intriguing inheritance, dour domestics, an alluring library, an appealing aristocrat, a firm friend, a spooky presence, and a mad monk.

The Last Heir of Blackwood was a fast-paced gothic mystery that I read in a couple hours without putting it down. Ivy inherits an old abbey in 1927 Yorkshire, and soon after she arrives strange things start happening. Secrets and mysteries of the occult abound, and things are not what they seem. Ivy finds herself in great peril and must discover the key to her survival.

I enjoyed that it was a quick, entertaining read that kept me in suspense and gave me a dash of romance. The pacing was so swift that the plot and characterization don’t get deep development, but it’s perfect for a read-in-one-sitting adventure. I recommend it for fans of the gothic and dark magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP books for the advance copy!

THE LAST HEIR OF BLACKWOOD LIBRARY by Hester Fox is an atmospheric, cozy, ghost story!

Ivy Radcliffe gets my dream of an inheritance of an English manor with a to-die-for library. But all is not as it seems and the staff are clearly hiding something. Ivy is content to lose herself in discovering the books in the library, even though it appears this is the source of everyone's angst. It doesn't take too long to realize that her days are getting fuzzy, and this comforting room takes on a sinister tone and almost feels like it has life of its own.

I had a really fun time following Ivy's delight in the inheritance and then the turn of events as the eerie events kept compiling. The strange behavior of the staff added a lot of questions and uncertainty. The POV of Ivy only was a great choice to keep me in her shoes, wondering what was missing in the blanks that she was experiencing.

This was a fun, light mystery that I was able to read quickly! A haunted library was a fantastic character! And this cover is gorgeous.

Thank you @netgalley and @graydonhousebooks for this digital ARC! The Last Heir to Blackwood Library will be available this Tuesday, April 4th!

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox follows Ivy Radcliffe after she inherits a mansion from a long-lost relative. Inside the mansion is a magnificent library with huge allure for Ivy. Despite cryptic warnings from existing staff at the mansion, Ivy throws herself into refurbishing and cataloguing the library.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book -- the mystique and atmosphere of this foreboding mansion was intriguing. However, the pace thereafter was slow and by the time we got to some action, I felt disconnected from the story. The main character was making decisions that didn't make sense and didn't appear to take caution after particular instances that were definitely concerning. I realize that some of these decisions and actions have a reasoning behind them that the reader learns of later, but it still felt off to me. I also felt there were some plot inaccuracies but won't go into them here for fear of spoilers.

I did enjoy the backdrop of the post-World War I era in this book and how that affected many people in the book. I wish that were played up a bit more so that we could see those affects on the emotions, actions, etc, of those involved, but we were mostly just told that these things happened rather than feel them from the characters.

I loved the homage to books throughout the story and loved that a library was the center of the story.

Overall, if you enjoy gothic books with a historical setting and fantastical twist, I'd say give this one a try. I don't think this one was for me though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

When I picked up this book, I thought it was historical fiction. I was very confused and delighted when it turned out to be more than that. Ivy was an extremally likeable character, as were most of the supporting cast. There were some parts that seemed to move so fast for no reason, but I like that the reasons for it are revealed later on. This was a fun read!

This was kind of fun. I love a good spooky gothic mystery. Overall this wasn't quite my style, and the "magic" part of the book felt off and not too well explained. A fun read, but not really one I'd recommend.

This book was slightly too slow for me. i really liked the premise, and I liked how the book was disjointed to reflect the narrator's thoughts, but, it was just a bit too slow.

Hester Fox is so good at invoking atmospheric, creepy gothic vibes! The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is set in the UK post WWI. Ivy is a young woman living in London who has lost her family to the war and illness. But then she suddenly inherits a title and estate from a distant relative and her life changes. Formerly an abbey, she becomes guardian to a mysterious and probably haunted library. One that seems to give her headaches and make her struggle with her memory...

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for this e-arc.*

An interesting tale, a love letter to the mysteries old libraries hold. Had trouble connecting with our main character, pacing was solid and the language was lovely.

I love a good gothic historical story, and add a bookish element and there is no way I'm going to be able to resist reading it. This is probably why it is easy to understand how The Last Heir To Blackwood Library ended up on my shelves, because this newest story by Hester Fox offers both. I've enjoyed her work in the past, and there was just something about the blurb, the Blackwood abbey and its secrets that made this story sound irresistible. And while there were things that didn't work as well as expected for me, as a whole it turned out to be a solid read.

One of the highlights for me was without doubt the Yorkshire setting. I loved the prologue and the 14th century timeline, and I almost wish that we could have had more of this POV throughout the story. I would have loved to learn more about the origins of the abbey! That said, I did love the 1927 timeline as well, with the post WWI references and the descriptions of the Blackwood Abbey as well as life as it was back then. The Yorkshire setting really came through, and the descriptions of the abbey gave the story that perfect gothic vibe.

The Last Heir To Blackwood Library is quite hard to put inside a neat little genre box. While it's true that it is essentially historical fiction with its 1927 setting, you will also find paranormal horror and fantasy elements in the abbey's history and what is happening to main character Ivy. There is even romance incorporated as well, and of course you have the mystery around the abbey's secrets. I mostly liked this mix of genres, although I personally could have done without the romance and especially the love triangle.

As for the characters... I think this is part of the issue I had with this story. I don't think that they were developed to a satisfactory level, and some of their traits felt quite cliche. I don't think that their behavior was consistent either. Take Ivy for example: she is supposed to be stubborn and smart, but she lets Arthur do what he does without truly fighting back? Basically giving up without really trying? This just wasn't credible to me and kind of put a damper on things. I also feel that there was just too much miscommunication and the situation could have easily solved a lot sooner if the rest just explained the truth to Ivy (even though she would probably forget it again).

The pace was also a lot slower than expected, and certain parts of the plot dragged considerably (especially in the first half). Things did improve later on, but the balance kind of tipped to the other side and I felt like the solution of the whole problem was rushed and a bit too easy. It felt like the author was trying to give us a nice clean ending all wrapped up in a nice bow, and it didn't fit with the rest of the story.

That said, I still love the premise of The Last Heir To Blackwood Library, and Hester Fox is fantastic at creating that perfect gothic atmosphere. The Blackwood Abbey with its library and secrets is without doubt the star of the show!

At 38% I know that this book is not to my taste. There will be many who enjoy this gothic horror story. It’s just not for me. DNF

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. I regret that I am unable to finish and give a complete review.

This is a sad review since not only could I not bring myself to finish this book, but I was excited about the premise and the beginning. I DNF at page 206 out of 330 because I'd just had enough of nothing happening.

I like the premise of a working-class woman suddenly inheriting land, a manor, and servants from a distant relation she's never met. I dislike Ivy's realization that things between her and Arthur are moving quite quickly-too quickly-but she continues on.

I LOVE the emphasis on historical events and their repercussions in the backstory. It is set after the Great War and many lost friends, family, loved ones, and their lives but there are also those that bear scars from returning-or those that never went.

The staff at Blackwood Abbey is interesting, uninviting, and stiff which comes as no surprise because many of them have served several masters of the house and Ivy is just another placeholder.
This definitely has the gothic academia feel to it but I'm a little sad that as excited as Ivy is about her professor father and his knowledge of esoteric manuscripts that she only seems to be interested in novels-especially given the Prologue of the book. There is just so much telling us that Ivy likes books.

Dear God, Ivy is not only naive-that’s not a bad trait in itself- but trusting when she has reason to not be. She is a young woman who has lost her family to war and sickness and had to make her way herself so she shouldn't be THIS naive.

I think if anyone found their diary torn to shreds while they had been away the response would be I’ll keep a smaller portable notebook on my person instead. Ivy just gets a bit upset and never tries again. This is conflicting because we are TOLD she is stubborn, yet not shown how she is stubborn.

I do also realize there is a difference in the time period and how things progress, but I am quite annoyed that she has known Arthur for a few weeks, gone out with him a few times and suddenly they are engaged. This is definitely a product of her being a naive romantic but it's still annoying since she’s supposed to be a learned woman as well.

I’m about halfway through the book and those two points, not to mention this mystery we’ve been teased with and haven’t really had any new information about, would normally be enough for me to DNF. Since this is an ARC, I will give it a bit more of a chance. Also, I usually love unreliable narrators, but this just isn’t done as well, I suppose.

Ugh. I just can’t keep on. Ivy is too clueless, too helpless, too stubborn and she is just a passive subject while the plot happens to her. She is a boring character that only seems to exist for plot reasons. Page 206 out of 330 and not much has happened in those 200 pages, not to mention the huge plot reveal only just happened and has to be wrapped up in the remainder. There is too little information given to the reader as they keep the main character ignorant.

"The Last Heir to Blackwood Library" features Ivy who has just lost all her immediate family in WWI, but then finds out she is the last heir to Blackwood Abbey and is now Lady Hayworth. Once she arrives at Blackwood, she finds surly servants, a locked library, and mysterious memory loss.

There are such good bones in this story: the Gothic setting, unreliable narrator, ancient evil, ghosts, and spookiness. However, the pace is absolutely glacial. I wasn't interested in the story most of the time. I liked the setting, atmosphere, and ancient mystery a lot, which is why I kept reading, but I didn't care about the characters at all. They were two-dimensional; everyone's place in the story is obvious right from the beginning. The romance isn't natural because we don't see any of it actually happen due to Ivy's memory loss, and I wish it just weren't there. I was also very annoyed that we never see Ivy reunite with her friend from London. Her friend saw all that craziness and then just forgot about her? Completely unbelievable.

I think there's an audience for this book, but I wouldn't read it again and may not pick up other works by this author.

One of the most original and eerie gothic novels I’ve read in some time, THE LAST HEIR OF BLACKWOOD LIBRARY had me turning its pages deep into the night. Hester Fox’s delectable latest unspools a dark, eerie fantasy aimed at every book lover who’s ever dreamt of living in a library. You don’t want to miss this one!