I really enjoyed this book - the immersive, dark Gothic atmosphere was a great start to spooky season.

I enjoyed the unique magic system, but I found myself wanting more explanation sometimes. The MMC was dark and wounded, the best kind - and the romance and spice were hot.

Overall a good read, and I appreciate the chance to review an early copy!

Bea Northwick’s Blackwicket is a hauntingly atmospheric dark romantasy that sinks its roots deep into Gothic tradition while weaving something entirely fresh. Set against the windswept cliffs of Nightglass, the story follows Eleanora Blackwicket—reluctant heir, “curse eater,” and a woman bound by a promise to her dying sister. Returning to the crumbling Blackwicket House, she must confront a legacy steeped in sorrow, a black-market of forbidden magic, and a dangerous connection to Victor Harrow, the enigmatic inspector with secrets of his own.

What Worked for Me

The Atmosphere: Northwick paints Nightglass in moody strokes—salt air, shadowed streets, and a manor that feels alive with memory. The setting itself becomes a character, amplifying the novel’s tension.

The Magic: Curse-eating and the underworld trade in dangerous spells make for an original magic system that feels both mythic and visceral. It raises fascinating moral questions about power, choice, and consequence.

The Characters: Eleanora is layered—both vulnerable and quietly resilient. Her dynamic with Victor Harrow balances sharp tension with slow-burning chemistry, keeping me invested in every exchange.

The Gothic Romance Vibe: Lovers of dark secrets, lingering curses, and romantic tension wrapped in dread will feel right at home here.

Where It Could Grow

At times, the pacing of certain reveals felt slightly predictable (a side effect of the genre’s conventions), and I found myself wishing for more depth from the supporting cast. A few townsfolk and secondary figures hinted at rich stories of their own, and I wanted more time in their shadows.

Final Thoughts

Blackwicket is a lush, brooding tale of legacy, curses, and forbidden longing. It’s perfect for readers who crave a balance of gothic atmosphere and romantic tension, and who enjoy their fantasy worlds with a touch of peril and melancholy. Bea Northwick delivers a strong entry into the dark romantasy genre, and I’ll be watching eagerly for what she creates next.

𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐𝖜𝖎𝖈𝖐𝖊𝖙 💨
.
𝔅𝔩𝔲𝔯𝔟: Home is where the curses are.
In the coastal town of Nightglass, Blackwicket House looms on the cliffs, far from the charming streets bustling with wealthy visitors seeking to experience a bit of real magic. Once an esteemed Inn with a reputation for healing, it now serves only as a grim warning to anyone tempted by curses. With Fiona Blackwicket, its sole caretaker, newly deceased, it stands empty - a dangerous thing for Blackwicket House to be.
Compelled out of hiding by the sudden death of her sister, Eleanora Blackwicket is forced back to her infamous family home with hasty intentions to bury Fiona and return to her life on the run. Her plans are waylaid when the Brom, an underworld organization specializing in black-market magic, catch wind of her presence and turn an interested eye on her rumored affinity for curse eating
.
𝔔𝔲𝔬𝔱𝔢: "But you ignite me, soothe the ache of this affliction. Being near you is like feeling spring after endless winter."
.
And the sea, as you know, it takes
lovers away
But call me back with your sorrows, And in spirit, I'll stay.
I'll stay, I'll stay, 'till you meet me
across
And discover in death that our love
wasn't lost
It was fickle time only that kept us
apart
Until then, I'll be near In both dreams and your heart.
.
𝔉𝔞𝔳𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔢 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔯: Victor Harrow. He’s so witty and mysterious and grumpy! Haha I love his fierceness and at the same time his vulnerability when you least expect it.
.
𝔚𝔥𝔞𝔱 ℑ 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔡: The atmosphere is so captivating! I could truly envision everything, from the streets of Nightglass, to the walls of Blackwicket house. The horror tells us the understanding of deep pain and true terrors we take on, not only for ourselves, but for others sometimes. Blackwicket is heartbreaking, horrifying and so breathtakingly beautiful, I felt all the emotions with this one.
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Blackwicket is available today! Thank you NetGalley, Bea Northwick and Victory Editing for this advanced copy. My review is up now on my Instagram and will be available on Goodreads and Amazon shortly.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bea Northwick for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Blackwicket coming out September 9, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love gothic tales. I thought the setting was spooky and dark. I enjoyed the story, but it was a bit on the slow burn side. I was hoping for a little more action. It was a little long during the second half. I would check out other books by this author.

This was a unique dark gothic fantasy romance…the magic in this was interesting. If you like One Dark Window I feel like you will like this book as well. The plot twists in this book were awesome and so unexpected. Every time you thought the story was going in one direction you were hit with something else. The world building was beautifully done.

3.5 out of 5

This has an eerie, gothic atmosphere which I really enjoyed.
Definitely the perfect vibe for spooky szn/autumn reads.
Did find the magic system difficult to follow at times but it was very unique. Maybe needed more simplified explanation at the start for ease instead of it being threaded into the story. In all I enjoyed the read.

This book has you guessing from the start and drags you right in. From the dedication to the unique magic, it’s intriguing. I’ve never read anything like Blackwicket and I loved the dark, gothic vibe from the book. I’ve also never read anything about Curse Eaters before so the beginning of the book with Eleanor’s encounter with a curse at her job, I was in shock to say the least!

It is a slow burn so it took me a bit to get in to but all around was a great read!!

“Here’s to the broken and the broken-hearted. May you find power in that deep darkness, and may the sun rise again. Someday.” Right from the dedication this one had me intrigued!
This one is definitely more of a slow burn which I think is why it took me a little while to get into. But it’s worth the wait. Dark, gothic and an atmospheric read. It’s fantasy based with supernatural realism with “curse eaters” which was an interesting concept that I don’t think I’d ever read about before. Plus a few spicy scenes 😉 some of it can be a little confusing, the book.. not the spicy scenes 🤣. But a good choice for an eerie spooky season read.

Blackwicket by Bea Northwick
Pub date: 9/9/2025

This book was a great read from the very beginning! It presents a unique premise and magic system in a dark, gothic setting.

In the coastal town of Nightglass, Blackwicket House looms on the cliffs, far from the charming streets bustling with wealthy visitors seeking to experience a bit of real magic. Once an esteemed Inn with a reputation for healing, it now serves only as a grim warning to anyone tempted by curses. With Fiona Blackwicket, its sole caretaker, newly deceased, it stands empty - a dangerous thing for Blackwicket House to be. Compelled out of hiding by the sudden death of her sister, Eleanora Blackwicket is forced back to her infamous family home with hasty intentions to bury Fiona and return to her life on the run. Her plans are waylaid when the Brom, an underworld organization specializing in black-market magic, catch wind of her presence and turn an interested eye on her rumored affinity for curse eating.

Eleanora is a character that makes you emotionally invested in her journey. Our MMC is delicious and broody and mysterious. It took me a little while to fully understand the magic system as it is different than most others that I have read, but I really enjoyed the story and the setting. The descriptions and imagery was painted vividly and this was a perfect start to spooky season reading.

“The darkness that devoured people from the inside out was often their own.”

Tropes:
Dark, gothic setting
Magical mafia
Morally grey characters
Broody MMC
Slow burn

Thank you to NetGalley and author Bea Northwick for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 🌟

If you're looking for a gothic atmosphere this is the book for you. The tone of the writing really helped the story come to life. The magic system was intriguing and the curse-breaking was a cool power for the FMC to have. It was quite slow to start, and I'd imagine if I re-read it when I was in the mood for a slower read I would've enjoyed it more. As it stands and how I feel at this moment though, is a 3.5 🌟. I never really bought into the relationship and wish the magic system had a touch more explanation.

Would be a perfect October read by the fire for the vibes alone.

***Thank you Bea Northwick and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this ARC. My review is voluntary and all thoughts and opinions are my own***

Blackwicket is such a unique story it reeled me in at the very beginning then spit me out on the last page.
It’s creepy af which makes it perfect for this time of year! The world Bea Northwick has built is genuinely unlike all the others. The magic system is also intriguing. The story is full of mystery and will keep you guessing!
So if you like creepy old mansions, evil creatures, curses, betrayal, oh and I guess you could call it some monster spice? If you like all of those then you’re gonna want Blackwicket!

This was probably one of my favourite reads for the year. It was atmospheric and highly visual. I love books with great settings and a lot of imagery. The gothic setting itself really allowed me to immerse my self in the plot. That being said, this books was very much plot and character driven. Northiwck has always written beautiful three dimensional characters. They were flawed, all of them. No one felt flat to me which added to the plot. Gothic Fantasies are one of my favourite genres and this book did not disappoint.

The pacing was fine, not too slow. It was a good build up. One thing that Northwick does is a plot twist that you don't see coming. I thought I prepared myself after The Cruel Dark but I was mistaken.

I loved this unique magic system that was incorporated and it really added to the eeriness of the setting and the plot. I don't want to get too much into this since it would lead to spoilers but It was creepy which I loved and the writing really allowed me to visualise what was occurring. It did take a bit to really understand but it did not take away from the experience.

The romance in this book was everything. I was not expecting that dynamic but I totally loved it. It was a slow burn but it was worth it. There was tension and chemistry! There is a reason enemies to lovers is a favourite of mine and Norwthick delivered on a proper build between Eleanor and Victor.

Overall an amazing read. Perfect for the autumn/ spooky season.

I really wanted to love this one because I loved her other book, but this one just fell flat for me. The magical system/structure is confusing. It took me forever to get through because I was so confused. There was too much going on and not enough explanations.

A gothic, magical slowburn that I found both captivating and occasionally frustrating—but in a way that still made me love it.

The setting and atmosphere are phenomenal. Northwick nails the 1920s gothic vibe, with poetic descriptions that make Nightglass and Blackwicket House feel haunting, dangerous, and alive. The slowburn romance is well executed, though I felt the culmination of it was a bit rushed—after savoring the tension, it was like, hereee you go! Still, the spice itself is super well written and hits all the right notes.

Plot-wise, the story is strong. The twists are satisfying, the magic system intriguing, and the underworld elements (like the Brom) are fascinating. I especially loved how curse-eating was portrayed—it felt fresh and sinister in all the best ways.

My main critique is with the descriptions and pacing. Some passages were drawn out to the point of slowing momentum, and I would have loved a touch more historical grounding to balance the poeticism and give extra depth to the world. It’s a small thing, but it would have elevated the story even more.

Overall, Blackwicket is a haunting, atmospheric, and twisty read. If you love gothic romance, slowburn tension, and a dark magical world, this one will linger with you long after your finished.

I found this book really intriguing and it held my interest all the way through. It has a really dark, gothic feel and is very beautifully written. It is full of dark secrets, mystery and intrigue with lots of plot twists all the way through. Most of them I did not see coming at all, which I loved!

I loved the range of characters. I’m not sure I’ve read a book with so many morally grey characters within the same plot! But they were great and I felt they were well developed. I loved Eleanor and Victor as the MCs - their enemies to lovers vibe was full of tension and chemistry.

I found the story really interesting and unique, but if I’m totally honest I’m not sure if I actually fully understood everything within the plot. Particularly surrounding the magic system - the cures eaters, Drudge, the Brom. I’m not sure I completely understand what a Drudge is even now. I’m not sure if this was just a ‘me’ thing or whether more explanation/background was needed earlier on to make it easier to follow and understand the I found this slowed down my reading as I found myself flicking back to try and clarify some things.

I still enjoyed reading this book and am definitely looking forward to the next book.
The last few chapters were really exciting and there was lots of action. I thought the ending was great and if this becomes a series maybe the bits I was unsure of will become clearer the more the story opens up. It is definitely one to read!
A huge thank you to Bea Northwick and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and honestly/voluntarily given.

This book is perfect for the upcoming fall season. I really enjoyed this book, was a little too slow for me at times and I lost my focus. So I did have to push through but otherwise is was great.

*Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this ARC!*

This book was a bit hard to get into for me if I'm being honest - I thought about DNF'ing around the 25% mark. But, I kept going because sometimes the book gets better and it did in this case!

I did really enjoy the slow-burn, unique romance between Inspector Harrow & Eleanora - I think that's really what kept me going with this book. I also did not see the twist about Harrow's true identity coming, so that was a treat!

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a dystopian-fantasy, but I think it was a bit too complex in that sense for me.

I enjoyed this gothic paranormal romance with a sprinkle of suspense, however, it didn’t quite reach to the level of its predecessor. I wanted MORE. The romance was great, I appreciate that it wasn't as slow burn as I thought it would. There were a lot of gaps in the “fantasy” elements which needed to be developed more. It needed more explanation when it came to the magic system.
Bea still surprised me with the plot twist! I could never anticipate them! This was very enjoyable.

Blackwicket by Bea Northwick is the first book in the Dark Hall series and there’s a lot to sink your teeth in to if you’re a fan of this genre. I haven’t read much like it before, don’t know if I will again, but definitely recommend it to those who are into dark fantasy, horror, very morally gray heroes, supernatural mafia and corrupt government themes, and dark romance.

While I loved the enemies-to-lovers spice, I had a hard time buying the MCs’ connection until more than two thirds of the way through. This book would have benefitted from dual POVs, to balance the narrative, create empathy with the characters, and been extremely beneficial to the romance. The magic system wasn’t well explained and I couldn’t follow the logic. Once I stopped trying to understand and let myself just go with the story, I enjoyed it more. While there was resolution at the end, it was definitely set up to launch the next adventure, which I’m sure will delight its fans.

While this wasn’t what I hoped it would be, I think readers in this genre will find a lot to like. If there’s more character development in future books, and some editing to tighten it up, I think it could be great. I rate it three and a half solid stars as the beginning of something with a lot of potential.

Thanks so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the chance to read and review an ARC. Opinions are 100% mine.

Gothic romantasy that I can't wait to read more of...
🕸️🥀

The story revolves around a curse eater, Eleanora who returns to her ancestral home of Blackwicket after her sister's untimely demise. She is thrust into the world of illegal use of magic and is in the path of danger. Inspector Harrow, who dislikes curse eaters and illegal magic users, find her to be a trouble. But it's not long before the secrets of the town engulfs them and hidden feelings within them emerge...

I liked how this book turned out to be. The gothic element in this story shines through and I was eager to read more from this genre.

Romantasy as a trope is really good and the book did justice to the same. The hidden chemistry between the main two characters progressed without hindering the element of mystery prevalent in the story.

As far as mystery is concerned, it was so good! The reason for the Blackwicket sister's death was explored and without anyone doubting, the author skillfully hid a major twist all along.

As far as the ending was concerned, I was a bit confused. But I'm sure that the confusion would disappear if a sequel is released 😉