I know it's cliche to begin with "I really wanted to love this book," but it's a relatively accurate summation of how I'm feeling.

I loved the beginning--so, so much. The writing was gorgeous for much of the book, too, but nothing like it was in that prologue. I think what dampened the reading experience overall (for me, anyway) was that I kept wanting to get back to the prologue. I wanted to read *that* book. As a result, I feel uncertain, unsatisfied, and restless about the *overall* reading experience now that I've finished.

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes... ish?

Its moments of rich, atmospheric writing were memorable and enviable. The writer's ability to control the reading experience, sometimes making me wonder if I was reading too many books at once and was somehow forgetting scenes and details (which turns out to be part of the plot) was also well done and memorable in its effect.

I wasn't a fan, unfortunately, of the main character, though... but, again, I think that's entirely because I wanted to be reading another character's story, remaining in that original POV.

I saw connections to Netflix's "Rebecca" and wondered if we weren't going to travel down a Jane Eyre -esque journey, but despite the (mildly cliche?) setup I *thought* was taking place, the story did end up having an original plot. Even if I wasn't entirely satisfied by the ending, I did very much appreciate that I hadn't guessed the ultimate climax toward the end.

So, to get back to it, how likely would I be to recommend this book to others?

In word form:
It would be entirely dependent upon what the person was looking for.

In rating form:
Atmosphere- 4 out of 5
Writing style- 5 out of 5
Plot- 3 out of 5
Character Development- 2 out of 5
"You have to read the book I just read!" type sharing- 2 out of 5

Set in London, in 1927, the world is suffering in the aftermath of the Great War, with the poor, dilapidated state of things. Ivy is alone in the world, after both her father and brother died fighting in the war and her mother succumbed to influenza. Grieving the loss of her family, she has all but given up hope for making a life for herself, or for finding someone to love when her generation of men has suffered devastating losses of life, or for finding a job that accepts women now that the men have returned home. She receives news that she is the sole remaining heir, although distantly related, to the Hayworth family, including the old Blackwood Abbey.

The atmosphere is my favorite part of this story, with its truly gothic setting. Who doesn’t love a story that features an ancient, sentient library? It’s a cozy kind of spooky, with eerie events that are supernatural. And there are some sinister turns towards the end that I wasn’t expecting.

The plot is a little light in the beginning. It has a rather slow start, there isn’t a whole lot going on for the first hundred pages or so. It feels lackadaisical, lacking in momentum to push or pull me forwards. About halfway through things start to pick up and by the climax of events I was invested in the outcome. The memory lapses create an unreliable narrator and I found that an interesting nuance with the plot.

I wasn’t immediately taken with Ivy, and I don’t know that I have any specific reason for this. It’s just my personal experience with the story that I didn’t find her to be the most endearing or relatable character. However, I do love her propensity for breaking gender boundaries during a time when female propriety was everything. I like that she also worked to break class boundaries as well, with sharing her books and knowledge with the masses. I also didn’t feel like any of the other characters had any real depth or backstory to them. They all feel very one dimensional, making it difficult to care for them. There is a cute, subtle romance that happens and I like that it is handled delicately with his protectiveness of Ivy.

I would’ve really loved for this story to be dual timelines, with half of it told from Matilda’s perspective. I think fleshing out the connections between her and Ivy would have added more depth to the characters. And I also think that this may have bolstered the plot some as well. The prologue is the most intriguing portion within the first act. I think learning more about the events that occurred during the Black Death, how that relates to what happens within the abbey, and experiencing those events occurring as the mysteries are unraveled simultaneously would’ve made this story come to life even more.

In theory and conceptually, this book has all the things I should love. But the execution just isn’t compelling enough. I kind of had to force myself to keep going with this one at times. I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it. It’s just ok for me. There are parts that I like, but equally parts that I struggled with. I do still think there is an audience out there for this one. This is my first read by this author, and I would read other books by her in the future. Even though this particular story isn’t my favorite, I liked the writing style and world-building and the conclusion of events. I had to sit with my thoughts on this one for a bit to decide how I feel and consider what lasting impressions it left on me. I’m settling on three stars for this one (probably 3.5).

3.5 stars

this was nice, but not earth-shattering. also maybe a bit disappointing because the premise was interesting. my problem with recent gothic stories is that yes, there are tropes of the genre that make it a true gothic, but i've noticed that those tropes sometimes give way to cliche. crumbling estates, standoffish servants, and rainy nights are all fine & dandy but i'd appreciate something more original sometimes.

the other issue is that the female lead characters of these stories are often unrealistic. their only flaw ever seems to be that they're stubborn. ivy (the main character) suffered from memory loss, and that was used as her central flaw--but that's not an actual character flaw! give me more complexity!!!
and as a side note: when a literary character's #1 personality point is "i just looooooove books, books are my only friends, i never look up at the sky because it's in the opposite direction as a book, blah blah" i cannot STAND it. it might be the biggest cliche in the world.

all that being said, the story was fine. there was romance. the writing was nice. i don't need every book i read to blow me away, although obviously i much prefer it when they do lol.

i received an arc from netgalley.

A gothic suspense tale that begins with Ivy Radcliffe inheriting an estate from distant family she never knew existed as she’s the last in the family line. Now Lady Hayworth she’s Isolated in a spooky house with an intimidating housekeeper, and strange things happening. The perfect and predictable formulaic gothic mystery that becomes even stranger when she discovers the house has a large but odd library that the housekeeper tries to keep her away from.

Hester Fox books are an automatic pre order for me! I adored this book. A gothic and mysterious library lies at the centre of this exquisite gothic novel. The interwar period is one of my favourites for historical fiction and.

Perfect for Halloween, (or really anytime of the year - it is that good), this novel captivated me from the first page. Combining historical post-WWI details, gothic mystery, and a library - what more could I want! Ms. Fox has written a several novels, but I believe this one might be her best yet! What a ride! An excellent thriller and I believe everyone would enjoy the twists and turns and the brilliant original plot. Wonderful, captivating writing gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. I couldn't put it down - I had to know what would happen next. I highly recommend this author and all of her other books I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing and #GraydonHouse for the advance copy ebook of #TheLastHeirtoBlackwoodLibrary, by Hester Fox. Post-WWI, Ivy Radcliffe inherits a grand estate, making her an instant Lady. The estate is an old abbey that is home to an extensive library that was allegedly used as an infirmary during the war. The library has a particular calling for Ivy, and she is drawn to its center. Ivy vows to make it a proper library again, but there are forces working against her. A right twisty ghost story in an old abbey set in the mysterious moors – perfectly creepy at times. This is a fantastic book, highly recommended for the history buff, the ghost story fanatic, or even the romantic.

Great little Halloween read. A library that lives off the souls of the manor heirs, books that cause chaos if removed from the library and a heroine that is the right part damsel and her own hero.

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
(ARC) Review 3 1/2 ✨

1346 Yorkshire, England. Matilda is a nun who has taken the vow of solitude to be an “ anchoress”. She has written a manuscript with years of knowledge and safeguarding the book from those with ill intent.

1927 London, England. Set in post WWI. Ivy Radcliffe has lost everyone she holds dear. As she struggles to find purpose she feels a sense of hopelessness and lack of purpose.
Ivy unexpectedly receives a request to attend a reading of the last will and testament to the late Lord Hayworth of Blackwood, Yorkshire.

It so happens she is of relation to the late Lord Hayworth and is the next heir to the estate of Blackwood Abbey. With the stroke of a pen she now becomes lady Hayworth.
The Abbey is known for its exquisite library. It boasts 400 years of books, texts and manuscripts. Ivy is in heaven but will soon find that the library takes more than it gives!

What transpires within the walls of the Blackwood estate is pure, debilitating evil. There are secrets and deception at every turn.


- This novel has hauntingly beautiful imagery of the manor and English countryside. Something I can always expect from Hester’s books.
- I truly appreciated the concept of an omniscient, otherworldly library.
- The book began with a moderate pace than stalled 3/4 of the way through. The momentum picked up before the end.
- The past, present events I found a little confusing. I wish there was more interaction between Matilda and Ivy.
- The death of the antagonists were anticlimactic. It seemed too simple.
- I had hoped for a stronger connection between Ivy and Ralph rather than hot/cold.
- Upon completion of this book I reflected on how debilitating it must be to lose pieces of oneself. To be incapacitated by forces out of one’s control.
- I adore Hester’s books and if you are looking for a chilling, gothic read than try this.

This was a spooky little story. Ivy inherits an estate that comes a with a huge library. There’s secrets galore in this book. No one will tell Ivy why they think she should leave. To make matters worse her memory is fading and what is causing her headaches.
It’s a gloomy, rainy, gothic type of story with some light romance. It’s certain to keep your attention and make you stay up late

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The right readers will love this book. I don't think it will do well in our little free libraries, though. It's very niche.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

Ivy Radcliffe, who has lost her family in the Great War, suddenly inherits Blackwood Abbey on the Yorkshire moors. When she arrives, she finds a dark, foreboding abbey with reserved servants. But once she finds the library, Ivy truly feels at home. At least until mysterious events begin to occur.
Dark, supernatural, twisty and oh so gothic, The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is a spooky tale with a touch of mystery and romance. I found the first half of the book a bit slow and the last half a breathtaking ride. The writing was good and the characters likeable, but the ending felt a bit rushed, and I was left wanting more details about the mysterious monk and a little more romance. And enjoyable read, perfect for October, with a satisfying number of Gothic elements. I would read this author again and recommend her to my library patrons. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advanced readers copy of this novel.

This was a spooky little story. Ivy inherits an estate that comes a with a huge library. There’s secrets galore in this book. No one will tell Ivy why they think she should leave. To make matters worse her memory is fading and what is causing her headaches.
It’s a gloomy, rainy, gothic type of story with some light romance. It’s certain to keep your attention and make you stay up late

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Ivy, the titular last heir to the Blackwood library, is an interested and well developed character who I enjoyed getting to know. The gothic/semi supernatural plot and narrative of the novel, however, occasionally got a bit out of hand. The historical details were fascinating and caused me to go down a research rabbit hole of learning more about medieval anchoresses. Fans of a good vengeful ghost story will really enjoy this title, though be ready to wade through extra plot and details.

3.75 stars

This is not really normally my jam at all, but I enjoyed this one! The absolute definition of an unreliable narrator. You definitely get glimpses of what may really be occurring, but you are never totally sure. You are always rooting for the independently spirited Ivy, who goes from orphan just scraping by in post-WWI London to inheriting a foreboding abbey in Yorkshire. She is a likable character, even as her narration becomes cloudy. The supporting cast is mysterious, of course. Suspenseful and interesting without being scary, this was a great October read.

Thank you to NetGalley and there publisher for an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This was a great book to read during the beginning of Fall. It has Gothic elements, and is about a Library. Right up my alley. Some of the plot seemed a little loose, but it worked.

I've been a fan of Hester Fox since The Witch of Willow Hall and always enjoy a new book by the author. This had what I was looking for in Ms. Fox's writing. I really enjoyed the story and the characters inside. It does what I enjoy from previous books and I enjoyed the journey.

"Mrs. Hewitt had said that she thought there was a gramophone somewhere, so Ivy made her way to the north wing where most of the rooms were used for storage. The sheer scale of the abbey still astounded her. It must once have been a dynamic home, bustling with servants and families full of children and governesses."

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is a dark story about a woman who inherits a mansion from people she never knew she was related to.
It comes with servants and of course a haunted past - it was formerly an abbey.
Central to this home is a large library - that Ivy (now Lady Radcliffe) is warned not to enter. She ignores the advice and finds it a lovely place to be. Until she begins to feel a presence.
What is happening to the library and what evil is it wrecking?

The book has the flavor of a gothic novel - and is set in post-WWI - a period with it's own haunted past.

I enjoyed this. I love everything Hester Fox writes. This was not my favorite though. It was overlong, and overly convoluted to the point of being torturous at times. It was a very interesting concept; I loved the ideas of the books of the past heirs. The monk was only vaguely mentioned and then thrown in at the end so it felt a bit rushed. I also wish the romance had been more on the page, and I feel a little robbed that we didn't get to see Ivy and I forgot his name fall in love. Still it was gothic and a Hester Fox, so still a very good time!

A solid story. It did not wow me in any particular way, but I was not upset by that. I was hoping that it would have gone back and forth in time a little bit, but that is only because I love a dual timeline.