I enjoyed this book! The FMC was very likable, I liked her backstory and her relationship with her family. The MMC was also very swoon-worthy.

The development of the story was good and it moved at a good pace. I liked all of the supporting characters and felt that they were all good additions to the overall plot. There was just enough of history between the main characters that it gave the reader a good feel for why Elina felt the way that she did about Ashby. I appreciated the Elina had a voice (and used it) and that she was respected by the male characters. I think the time period of the book drew me in as well, I love a book that is set in the past!

My one gripe about the book is that it seemed to end abruptly. I wanted more of a resolution of what happened to Elina's sister and Tristan, what happened with the potential for criminal charges, etc. It felt like there should have been one or two more chapters, even though there was an epilogue (which also felt rushed and didn't wrap up the story like I was hoping it would).

Historical romance with a hint of gothic mystery.
Recently widowed Elina is on her way to a house party with her family when they are set upon by highway men. Luckily the black unicorn rescues them but all is not what it seems. Elina is sure their robbery is the fault of the unicorn and resolves to uncover his secrets.
Lord Ashby is the drinking companion of Elina’s late husband and a holder of secrets. Elina must unravel these secrets and decide where her heart lies.
This was really enjoyable and a little different to the usual historical romance. Rich characters and conversations complement the search for clues and secrets. The only part I didn’t like was the ending. I just felt it was a big flat and didn’t match the pace of the rest of the story. This was also a very spicy book so beware if that’s not your thing.
All in all I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Imagine my disappointment when I read the final page of this book and didn’t have a sequel to run to 😭 I looked forward to reading this book all day. The writing was so beautiful, I absolutely loved Elina (and Ashby, are you kidding me????). I would have loved a few chapters from his POV. I think this book put me back in my medieval, gothic era.

This was a really well done historical romance novel, it had a great overall feel to it. I loved the use of 1792 and that it worked with the characters. I loved the idea of the Black Unicorn and thought it worked with the story. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and how they worked in this world. Elina had a unique motive and was written perfectly. I enjoyed the way Heather E.F. Carter wrote this, it worked so well as a historical fiction book.

What a book! With the French Revolution raging on across the sea, London society is instead entranced by the highwayman, The Black Unicorn and the mystery surrounding him. Having an interest in the late 1700s, The Black Unicorn was an interesting read with gothic landscapes and intriguing characters. I'll admit, at the beginning, I wasn't entirely sure, but I'm happy I stuck with it because it was so good. This novel has Scarlet Pimpernel vibes with a dash of Bridgerton romance/spice.

Overall, the Black Unicorn was a fascinating read, and I recommend it to any historical fiction fans who want an escape to a 1790s England entrenched in secrets and adventure.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blinky Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. If you like to read historical romance/mystery novels, this one is a cut above the ordinary. It has a couple twists and great character development. It kept me reading late into the night. I highly recommend this book. This does have some very explicit sexual scenes. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy.