This book was really good! So when I signed up to read this arc, all I saw was gothic romance and I was sold. But what I didn’t expect was all the edge of my seat suspense! I was hooked from the beginning and absolutely loved all the mystery!

The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick

Dark, grim, gothic romance reminiscent of Laura and Jayne Eyre ~ a compelling riveting read!

What I liked:
* The plot, pacing, setting, atmosphere, and writing
* Millicent Foxboro: strong, survivor, abused as a child, hard worker, has a bit of a temper, drawn to her new employer, amnesic memory of several years of her life, learns a lot and comes out stronger by the end of the book
* Callum Hughes: wealthy, professor, business owner, loving husband who lost his wife tragically, passionate, drawn to Millicent, works hard, dedicated to what he believes in, intriguing and deserving of happiness
* Dr. Hannigan: friend of Callum’s father and of Callum’s, intelligent, caring, capable, healer, cares about his patients, may be in love with Ms. Dillard
* Ms. Dillard: Willowfield’s housekeeper, capable, more than what she first appears to be, ended up quite liking her
* Being drawn into the story and liking the characters while I hoped that it would all work out for the good ones…eventually
* The fairy tale elements…loved fairy tales and still do
* The plot twists and turns and how all the threads finally were woven together at the end of the book

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Millie’s abusive mother and rather weak father along with all that she suffered as a child and later

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Northwick Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book for an honest review!

I'm soo glad I got to read this book! That's it. That's all. It was soo soo good. I'm currently in my spooky fantasy era and I'm living for it.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in. Having read a fair few gothic books this year, I had my bar set high and Bea Northwick did not disappoint. Poor Millie didn't know what she was getting herself into, but my gosh did it lead to some interesting discoveries.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

Woah! I read this one in a single sitting! It has historical, gothic vibes similar to Jane Eyre and Rebecca with beautiful prose, a little spice, and an intriguing storyline. I guessed one of the twists (only one though) but the story was so engaging that I started doubting myself. You will enjoy this book if you enjoy dark, gothic mysteries and romance!

Thank you, NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bea Northwick was a new author for me, and this book sounded interesting and compellingly gothic – a mix of Rebecca by Du Maurier and Jane Eyre by Bronte.

Millicent Foxboro is struggling. She can’t remember four years of her life. She has been working for a bookseller when the opportunity comes to go to the estate of widowed Professor Callum Hughes and translate and scribe his notes. The house is falling apart, and the professor’s deceased wife’s influence is everywhere. Secrets sinister and sensual abound and Millie struggles to know who to trust to help her find the truth.

The writing was quite good and atmospheric, and the mystery was well-crafted. I thought the premise clever. However, I was expecting more of a romantic suspense, but the strong language and steamy scenes seemed out of character with the tone of the story and the author’s writing. I am not opposed to language or spicy scenes, but these were so incongruous that it spoiled the story for me a little bit.

A strong debut, nonetheless. I would recommend it to library patrons but not for those seeking a gentler read. 3.5 stars.

I really liked the writing. Great gothic romance, everything a fan of the genre would want, with refreshing twists thrown in.

I loved this book set in the 1920s. Millie takes a job as an assistant for a wealthy professor. He lives in a run-down mansion that's very gothic and dark. Millie is drawn to him and he tries to resist but cannot. Then, Millie starts hearing things wailing at night and seeing apparitions of a woman. Is she crazy or does the Professor have something he's hiding.

I wasn't expecting any of these plot twist. It was so damn good and the romance/spice was unexpectedly good as well.

Bea Northwick's "The Cruel Dark" is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of gothic historical romance, where passion intertwines with eerie themes to create a hauntingly beautiful narrative. Set against a backdrop of mystery and intrigue, Northwick weaves a tale that transports readers to a bygone era, blending the allure of romance with the chill of the unknown.

The narrative unfolds in a richly detailed historical setting, immersing readers in the atmospheric world of 19th-century England. The author's meticulous attention to detail brings the era to life, capturing the essence of the time while establishing an eerie ambiance that permeates every page. The dark and brooding backdrop serves as the perfect canvas for the unfolding romance, adding depth and complexity to the characters' experiences. Just sooooo good!! Chef kiss.

At the heart of the story is a compelling cast of characters, each with their own secrets and desires. The protagonist's journey is marked by a sense of vulnerability that resonates with readers, making her struggles and triumphs all the more captivating. Northwick skillfully develops the relationships, creating a magnetic pull between characters that mirrors the tension between the gothic and romantic elements of the plot.

The romance in "The Cruel Dark" is both intoxicating and poignant. Northwick seamlessly integrates moments of passion with a palpable sense of foreboding, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The chemistry between the characters is electric, adding an extra layer of intensity to the unfolding drama. The author navigates the complexities of love in the face of adversity, making the romantic elements of the story as gripping as the mysterious undertones

This book guys. It absolutely blew my mind. I was starting to feel Millie’s pain on not knowing what was happening or who to trust. And when everything is revealed in the end I was mind blown!

Millie wakes up in a mental hospital and has lost years of her memories. When she receives an invitation to work for a reclusive professor she jumps at the chance. She moves into his haunted mansion and things get wild. Seriously, I can’t say much without ruining the story but I will say - it gets spicy and very intense! This was my first gothic romance and I loved it! The 1920s setting was perfect and spooky! I truly wasn’t sure how it was going to end but the ending is so so good! I love my romance with a little mystery so this was exactly how I needed to end October!

One of my favorite books of the month and I can't wait for the next book!

I had a hard time finishing this book I did not love it, but I think it’s because I couldn’t relate to it or the characters I know a lot of people who recommend this, so definitely give it a chance if you’re interested in this type of book. Three stars!

Fantastic prose, I really enjoyed this book. It was very well written, and the romance was incredible. I enjoyed the gothic atmosphere as well.

I cannot put into words how this “debut” novel made me feel! I feel as if the author has been writing forever and she will always be a “purchase now” for me.

Steam, SPICE, Gothic setting … it has it all.

I could relate in the aspect that the main character is an assistant sorting through manuscripts. The grief that consumes you, the love that blooms within it. It’s a story that can that show you love can grow in the darkest of places.

I am still in awe of this perfection. I want to read it again and again.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

A Gothic romance that I can't wait to own! Such an engrossing setting and an interesting plot with characters I can't stop thinking about. A definite win! So happy I came across it.

There's potential and the plot is well developed. It's not my cup of tea as it reminded me of other gothic novel I read and I felt a bit deja vue.
Not my cup of tea but I think a lot of people will like it
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This books keeps you guessing until last chapters, when we finally after a crazy twist we find out more.

First off, I’d like to thank NetGalley for letting me read this book early, and thank Bea Northwick for writing this!

Second; wow! This book was very good, mwah! I loved it a lot; it was certainly more of a historical mystery with a little bit of romance, so if anything, I’d have maybe preferred more romance but that’s just because I’m a romance girlie!

It was very well written and I loved the story! Easily a four star book for me.
💗💗💗💗

Thank you to Netgalley and Bea Northwick for allowing me to read and review.

Ho-ly. That ending.

Millicent Foxboro gets a job offer to work as Professor Hughes' assistant at Willowfield. But all is not right at Willowfield. There are secrets at every corner and secrets of her own. Can she solve the the mysterious Mrs. Hughes death and come to terms with her secrets before it's too late?

This book definitely makes you feel like you're on edge the whole time. You know something is not right but you aren't sure what it is. I was in the ballpark but I did not expect the ending to be what it was. Very pleased with how it ended though. A definite recommend.

The Cruel Dark is a magically intense book with so many fun twists and turns while also being gorgeously gothic!

This book really surprised me with how great it is! Ghost stories scare me and I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish but honestly I couldn't put it down.

Smutty, Folklore, work place romance, husband and wife romance and mystery all tied in together and it's a great mix!