Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

An horror story worthy of its name.

The author’s skills at setting the right eerie vibe are evident from the first lines of this chilling story. The beautifully descriptive scenery will transport you into a scary world that will creep you out and leave no doubts about what’s to come.

Evelyn is a delicate young woman who is to be married to Peter Black, a dashing handsome young man whose blue eyes and smooth talk promise a life full of love and devotion. Soon after the wedding, upon the announcement of Peter’s father passing, the couple is to move to Blackthorn house the family mansion where the new Lady Black will live with her husband.

Evelyn travels to her new abode with her personal maid Lilly, the two women are puzzled by the cold welcoming the village people give them, the situation doesn’t improve when they finally reach Blackthorn house. Death and decay are the premise for a more ominous future, a fate set in a past life which is bound by blood and a something more sinister.

This was my first read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last! I loved every agonising moment, the author has an uncanny ability in depicting a scary world, the mystery surrounding the weaving of the plot is expertly conceived. The revelation of every detail is a step towards the final scene and is well delivered without giving away too much but also allowing the narrative pace to progress. That last line of the epilogue didn’t fail to give me shivers! Well done Ms Mc Williams.

Heartfelt story. Very atmospheric. There were some elements of borrow but mostly mystery. It was a little slow paced but enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley, Marie McWilliams and Quill & Crow Publishing for the advanced copy.

Gothic horror that builds the dread and eeriness as the story progresses. I’d say pick this one up if stories by Poe, the Brontë sisters, or even more modern authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Catriona Ward, and Isabel Cañas are your jam.

I can’t say I was a huge fan of the characters themselves, but the plot and writing was engaging and immersive.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a copy!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Marie McWilliams for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Secrets of Blackthorn House coming out August 22, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really wanted to love it. I love spooky houses. It just wasn’t doing it for me. I wanted a little more from the characters. I would check out other books by this author.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House and Marie McWilliams for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Secrets of Blackthorn House in exchange for an honest review.

The Secrets of Blackthorn House follows Evelyn and her new husband, Peter, whose lives take a dark turn after Peter’s father passes away, making him the new Lord Black. The couple soon relocate to the remote and enigmatic Blackthorn House, a place shrouded in secrets and steeped in history.

This novel offers a compelling blend of mystery, the supernatural, and mythology, which I found thoroughly enjoyable. Evelyn is a well-developed, engaging protagonist, and her loyal maid, Lilly, is also a standout. In contrast, Peter (Lord Black) remains somewhat elusive, but this feels intentional and suits the unfolding narrative.

The writing transported me to another era, and the story was both immersive and easy to read. The mythological elements added an intriguing layer of depth that elevated the plot beyond a typical gothic mystery. I think this book would appeal to fans of The Haunting of Hill House, and I’d love to see it adapted for film or television as it has all the right ingredients for a chilling and atmospheric screen adaptation.

The Secrets of Blackthorn House
by Marie McWilliams

I'm going to start off by saying this is not my usual kind of read, at all. I can't even remember why I picked it up to read; HOWEVER, I really enjoyed it.

Right from the start I got drawn in to the story and I couldn't put it down. This is listed as a gothic horror, but I'd almost call it a 'horror lite' - which is in no way a bad thing. I am a self-proclaimed lightweight when it comes to anything scary (movies, books, ect.) so to me this was perfect. Slightly scary, dark and moody, sense of foreboding throughout, more "what is going on in this house and with these people" than jump-scare horror. The author's descriptions of the more "horror" aspect of things was detailed enough to make me say "ewww" rather than grotesque and graphic

I really liked this book and devoured it in 2 days. I thought it was paced well and really kept me on the edge of my seat. And the very ending of the epilogue??? What was that??? I can't stop thinking about this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Quill & Crow for the opportunity to read and review the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this gothic horror novel.

While I did love the lore that was included in this work, as well as the general message the author was trying to convey, unfortunately, this one fell short of the mark for me.

So much effort was put into creating a Gothic atmosphere that the pacing and character development took a major hit. The first half of the book slugged along with pages of descriptions of what felt like every room in this 100-room mansion, with little to no work done to develop the characters. The characters felt like cartoon drawings running around a scooby doo episode to me. This is especially true of the villain. The second half of the novel picks up the pace but continues to feel cartoonish and repetitive, resulting in a sprint to the finish line in the last 15%.

I can see people new to the horror genre enjoying this because of the spooky Gothic vibes, but it just wasn't for me.

Please check your triggers warnings before reading. They are included in the back of the book. There are numerous scenes that could be an issue for some readers.

I love good Gothic books., this one had all the elements but not sure I was the reader for it. I enjoyed it but I wasn't captured. I would still recommend this for readers. I think it has great elements and the writing was easy and flowed well. I think for my I'm more of a Gothic classic's fan than Gothic modern reader.

a seemingly good start - newlyweds evelyn and peter are picture perfect.. a doting husband, a loving wife; both come from well off families. but when peter’s father dies suddenly and has to travel back to his ancestral home, things take a steep dive and evelyn is left reeling and has her wondering if her husband might not be who she thinks he is.

mcwilliams does a fantastic job at laying down a very atmospheric, gothic horror foundation. but that’s where my interests kind of end and i wish i didn’t feel this way. this is very veryyy slowly paced. the plot sort of trudged along with no real build or tension of any kind. this is something that should kinda be a given with gothic horrors but it lacked here. i lost interest somewhere along the way but perked back up with the last few chapters.

this will be a hit with other readers, especially since fall is right around the corner. i may revisit it then since i am reading this in the middle of summer and hopefully i come across things i didn’t before with my initial read.

𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘭 & 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 ♡

A gothic masterpiece of a novel! This is perfect if the vibe you crave is eerie, mysterious gothic mansion.
Fab writing and outstanding character building and plot

Title: The Secrets of Blackthorn House
Author: Marie McWilliams
Publisher: Quill & Crow Publishing

From the opening pages, The Secrets of Blackthorn House began haunting me and refused to let go. The author has depicted a gloriously grotesque gothic horror that pulses with blood magic, Norse mythology, and emotionally resonant character work. This is the kind of story that doesn't just whisper its secrets—it bleeds them.

The setting is a character in its own right: Blackthorn House looms, isolated among moors and swampland like a festering wound in the landscape. The atmospheric prose transported me there amongst the spirits and entities - I could smell the damp rot, feel the chill in my bones. And those horror sequences? Cinematic! Visceral! I got literal goosebumps and a racing heart more than once.
Evelyn, our fierce yet quietly cunning FMC, anchors the narrative with her stoic resilience. She doesn’t perform strength - she embodies it in silence, in survival, in the battles she chooses not to fight. Her dynamic with Lilly lit a spark of hope that kept me clinging to every page. And that final epilogue scene? A masterclass in tension and gothic foreboding. The baby. The rattle. Exactly what i look for in my gothic horror mysteries!

This is my first taste of McWilliams’ storytelling, and I’m already hungry for more. If you’re drawn to gothic mysteries drenched in mythology, emotional stakes, and stunningly grotesque imagery you better step right up and make it snappy! Publication date: August 22nd 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow for the eARC. I’ll be thinking about Blackthorn House long after the last page.

Evelyn, newly married to the charismatic Peter, thought her life was perfect—until the sudden death of her father-in-law changes everything. With Peter inheriting the title of Lord Black, the couple moves into their new home, Blackthorn House. But once there, Peter begins to change into someone Evelyn no longer recognizes. What secrets lie hidden within the walls of Blackthorn House?

The gothic elements in this book really worked for me. The atmospheric eerie vibes of the setting and characters, gloomy tone. It all came together perfectly.

I knew I was going to love this book when I read the dedication.

" Dedicated to every woman who has been mistreated and underestimated by a man. They may burn us, but we will always rise triumphant from the ashes. "

Evelyn Black married for love. When her husband Peter's father dies, they must all relocate to Blackthorn House. There, Evelyn realizes that her husband's family, the Blacks, are not liked and are mostly feared. Blackthorn is a recluse manor, and Evelyn strikes up a friendship with a maid named Lilly. Peter starts treating Evelyn like property and controls her every day. He is also verbally abusive and shows nothing but disdain for his wife. Evelyn and Lilly begin to uncover Blackthorn's ugly dark secrets and realize that if Evelyn stays, she and her unborn child may be targets of a ritual that uses blood magic so that the Blacks can continue to have complete power and control over everything.

Evelyn's character starts off as a nice, sweet, and naive bride in love, and she quickly learns to stand up for herself and other women who have been oppressed and silenced. I really enjoyed her character, and Lilly was such a nice side character to our heroine. The whole book has this nice cool vibe of the haunted dark house, leering ghosts, a centuries old curse, and a trapped goddess. I enjoyed it so much!

The Secrets of Blackthorn House serves suspense, horror, mythology, a curse, and lots of blood!

Thank you, Netgalley and Quill & Crown Publishing House, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

A very good gothic novel with an original plot that I hadn't read until now. The characters are interesting and the pace, although quite slow, isn't boring. I had a good time with this novel. I just regret the ending, which I would have hoped would be a little different (a matter of personal taste).
4.5/5

The Secrets of Blackthorn House by Marie McWilliams
3.75 ⭐️

I received this early copy of The Secrets of Blackthorn House from NetGalley in return for my honest opinion, so thank you NetGalley and Quill & Crow!

This story follows a newlywed, smitten, Evelyn to her new home at Blackthorn House as the new Lady Black. Blackthorn House is in the middle of Yorkshire Moors with constant fog and gloom and staff as her only companions. She soon realizes her happily ever after may not be so happy after all.
Haunted by ghosts and lost hopes and dreams she will struggle to cope and to stay alive.

For me the first 30% of the book was a little slow, but picked up pace as the story unfolded. I really loved the unexpected Viking mix within the story—that made this story unique all on its own. I thought I had the book figured out and thinking I could predict the ending but I didn’t. I was a little bummed by the ending but was still okay with how it ended up (I suppose). ;)

A haunted, mysterious house that sits in the middle of nowhere becomes a new home for Evelyn. Once becoming pregnant, she realized that this house was not fit for her or her baby. But, she realized that in order to escape she must help the house and it will help her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

We start off reading about a newly wedded young couple, both came from money, and life is perfect. When Peter’s father dies unexpectedly he must return to his family home to take over his father’s duties, this home is much more than Evelyn anticipated.

Evelyn immediately gets a cold eerie feeling entering the home and the character change in Peter is drastic, who is the man that she married?

This book is a good read for any ghost and paranormal lover. I would have loved more of a spook factor throughout the story, but the ending left me with chills!

Will Evelyn make it out alive?

Thank You NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC!

I absolutely loved the mood this book gave! Eerie and goth with so many chilling secrets hidden within its walls. I loves the slow burn suspense and mysteries that were unraveled in the book, and how the truth might be scarier than anything we've seen yet that gives you the chills. It was such a dark and thrilling read that was hard to put down.

When Evelyn's husband Peter inherits his title and family manor shortly after their marriage, she's forced to navigate the unsettling Blackthorn House and its surrounding foggy moors. The reality of this new life turns out to be much less romantic and full of love than Evelyn had hoped as her husband is not as he appears and the staff are watching her every move. She needs to find answers about this strange family she's married into, and she needs to find them fast...

***

I really enjoyed McWilliams' atmospheric descriptions of these foggy moors and this creepy manor. The language is quite lush and well-suited to such a setting-focused genre.

That said, this book really didn't work for me. It hit the standard gothic story beats that one would expect, however it hit them VERY quickly with no build-up or tension whatsoever. Within the first couple of chapters most 'reveals' had already occurred which made it hard to care about getting to the end. Also, unfortunately, the characters felt very underdeveloped, including the main bad who was cartoonishly evil. There just wasn't the kind of subtlety and unsettling, slow burning build-up I have come to know and enjoy within the genre.

There is also a handy list of trigger warnings at the end of the book - I highly recommend investigating this before diving in as there are certainly several uncomfy scenarios and conversations in this book that may be tough for some readers to get through.

While this one didn't land for me, I did quite enjoy McWilliams' lush prose so I'd be interested to read more of her writing within other horror subgenres!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Secrets of Blackthorn House comes out August 22, 2025 for those interested!