Wow! What a debut! This book was nothing short of fantastic. It’s a delightful mix of gothic academia and slow burn romance that will have you squealing. It’s a well paced book, written in first person, with decent sized chapters and wonderful writing.

The world was in depth enough to require some explanation here and there though out the book (which the author did brilliantly) but not too extensive to the point where you’re getting lost. Blackthorn Manor is almost a character itself, the ever changing rooms keep both you and Kat on her feet!

The main characters were wonderful. Kat is a powerhouse, incredibly witty, intelligent and brave but humble enough that us non-magical beings can relate to her grief and sadness with so much depth. My heart was literally hurting for her!!! Emrys Blackthorn is an incredible character who I don’t think I could ever get enough of. He’s mysterious, bold, and protective but also extremely kind to those who he deems worthy - the perfect mix for this kind of book. The side characters of William and Alma were beautifully written and excellent additions to the book. They made a wonderful balance between the main characters and really emphasised how its the family you choose that will get you through the bad times.

The plot took me by surprise SO many times! It followed the pacing of the book incredibly, and it really felt like we were learning all of this stuff along side Kat and Emrys as they were learning it. There were also a few twists and turns that had me…not ok. The writing was beautiful and the author always explained complex world concepts with ease for the reader to understand. I loved the focus on knowledge, not just when Kat was in the institute, but also once she was out in the world and discovering things. We love strong women in academia!!!!

This book felt like a love letter to gothic fantasies everywhere. If you like gothic academia vibes with a slow burn romance to die for, then this book is for you! I love seeing female authors succeed, and Delaney smashed it out of the park with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the eBook arc for this novel, I am eternally grateful.

This was so much better than I anticipated! I really enjoy a book with magical monstrous books, it was adventurous, passionate and cruel in parts. This book had found family elements with a friends to lovers vibe more so than enemies to lovers. There are plenty of secrets and trauma to unearth due to the prejudice and history between the Fey and mortals. I really hope there’s a book 2!!

𝒯𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝑀𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉
By @jenniferdelaneyauthor
Publisher: @gollancz
Release Date: 29 August 2024

Wow!
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.

The cover of the book immediately captured my attention upon first glance, but it was the compelling and enthralling story that truly left a lasting impression on me. This book truly blew me away with its brilliance! It is definitely one of the best books I have read so far this year. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and I found myself completely captivated by it. The characters were so well-developed and lovable; it was impossible not to adore them.

This book is perfectly suited for those who appreciate:
* Slow Burn
* Gothic Romance
* Forbidden Romance
* Morally Grey Characters
* Found Family

I would like to express my gratitude to @netgalley, @gollancz and @jenniferdelaneyauthor for providing me with the opportunity to read this exceptional e-ARC , which has left a lasting impression on me. The quality of the content was so impressive that I have taken the step to pre-order it. Thank you for this wonderful reading experience,

Honestly, I was torn between racing through this book and dragging it out because I simply did not want it to end – it really is that good! Tales of a Monstrous Heart is a slow-burn, gothic romantasy that is full of yearning, stolen glances and tender moments.

The first chapter absolutely grabs you by the scruff of the collar and drags you into the world with one of the best and all-out-action openers that I've ever read. The story follows Katherine Woodrow, a Fey student at the Institute of Magic who faces daily prejudice and obstacles from all mortals who now control the world that we're in. After a run-in with a dangerous demon that leaves a path of destruction, Kat is summoned to become a Mage Partner with Lord Blackthorn.

Emrys Blackthorn is elusive, mysterious and lives in a suitably gothic, sentient house that is ever-shifting its layout to its whim. Together, Kat and Emrys work together to desperately seek answers to Fey murders and unexplainable mysteries while uncovering a whole host of dark forces along the way. The plot never lags and keeps you thoroughly gripped throughout. The supporting characters – William, Alma and Thean – are well-developed and I absolutely adored them all, especially Thean!

Also, the ending may be one of the most gut-wrenching yet bravest endings from a debut writer that I've ever read. I cannot wait for everyone to experience Tales of a Monstrous Heart!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ - Firstly, thank you Jennifer for the incredible sample pack & allowing me to read the e-ARC 😍🥹

* About *
Tales of a Monstrous Heart is a captivating Gothic romance that melds the eerie and enchanting elements of the genre with a slow-burn romance that unfolds with deliberate elegance. Inspired by Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre," this novel pays homage to the classic while carving out its own unique niche in the realm of Gothic literature.

✨ Set in a brooding, atmospheric Blackthorn Manor & captivating landscape that feels alive with secrets and shadows, the story follows the journey of a resilient, complex heroine who finds herself entangled in a web of mystery and forbidden love.

* My Review *
🖤 The book excels in creating a vivid, immersive setting, from the creaking halls, moving rooms & hidden portals within an ancient manor, that whisper of long-buried secrets.

😍 The romance at the heart of the story is a slow-burning affair, characterized by deep emotional currents. The relationship between the protagonists evolves with a measured pace, allowing for rich character development and a profound exploration of their inner lives.

🖤 The romantic tension is heightened by the Gothic elements—ghostly apparitions, dark magic, monsters and historic family secrets, all with a a sense of impending doom—that hover on the periphery of their burgeoning love.

🤎 Kat and Lord Blackthorn (Emrys) are plunged into a realm of ancient tomes concealing monstrous horrors, sinister fiends who manipulate nightmares, and ruthless men bent on seeing them burn..

📚 What sets TOAMH apart is its haunting beauty of its descriptions. Jenifer skillfully uses language to evoke a sense of dark beauty, drawing readers into a world where every shadow and flicker of candlelight carries weight and meaning.

🤎 The emotional depth of the characters is amazing. I loved William & Alma, combined with the atmospheric setting - creates a reading journey everyone who loves Gothic Romantasy.. needs to experience!

📖 In the spirit of "Jane Eyre," the novel grapples with themes of autonomy, morality, and the struggle for self-identity. Katherine's journey is not just one of romantic discovery, but also of personal empowerment, as she navigates a labyrinth of societal expectations and personal demons being Fey and being from the Institute of Magic.

🖤 TOAMH is a testament to the allure of Gothic romance. It is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant tale that will appeal to fans of classic literature and modern romantasy alike.

🕯️ Whether you're drawn in by the promise of a haunting love story, Blackthorn Manor or the richly textured Gothic vibes, this book is sure to enchant and captivate you from the very first page to the last.. mark my words!

We need book No2!!!

Unfortunately, the font can't be resized on the format provided and that made reading on my phone too difficult to continue. I tried downloading and sending to my Kindle to no avail. It seems like a very good book but not worth ruining my eyesight over.

I did enjoy what I managed to read.

Tales of a Monstrous Heart is slow burn gothic dark academia based adult fantasy romance. It is the first installment in a trilogy by debut author Jennifer Delaney. Tales follows Katherine Woodrow, a Fey in a world where Fey are the lesser species. All she wants is to graduate from the Institute, but when circumstances have the council threatening her position she only has one option: to accept a partnership. Due to her Fey heritage Kat finds herself lacking in offers, so when the elusive Lord Emrys Blackthorn offers his hand she has no choice but to accept. Kat moves to Blackthorn manor to begin their partnership and she finds herself drawn to this dark, mysterious Lord. When they find themselves in the midst of Fey disappearances and murders, they must work together to over come the emerging dark magic and defeat the mortal men who feel themselves superior. What awaits in the darkness: secrets, lies and monstrous beings. However not everything can stay in the dark.

Tales drops you in it from the get go, opening up with an action packed scene that sets the pace for the rest of the book. The twist on Fey in this story is refreshing. I'm used to reading stories where the fae are the superior beginnings and to see a story where the Fey are looked down upon, hunted and even murdered was something new for me. The fact this plays out throughout the whole book allows you to feel the wall Kat really is up against throughout the whole book and no matter her actions she will never be good enough.

The dark gothic atmosphere of the manor and in particular the study are something I adored from this book. Who doesn't want a library, with gorgeous sculpted desks, a fireplace & shelves upon shelves of books. I have to say I think the manor itself is my favourite character. I love a sentient house that causes mischief for its inhabitants, from moving rooms to having doors lead you to somewhere else. It did have me chuckling once or twice.

While the plot is action packed & keeps you moving throughout the story for me the real selling point of this book is the characters and the side characters in particular. I loved Katherine and Emrys and seeing their romance grow. The banter, the angst, the longing glances had me swooning. But William, Alma and Thean are what build on the story. William is a sweet cinnamon roll boy and I will see no harm come to him. The fierceness and loyalty of Alma gives her a firm place in my heart. And then the humour and bluntness Thean adds. *chefs kiss*. I am so excited to see more of these in the upcoming books.

Jennifer's writing in parts of this book swept me away and I can't wait to see her build on this as she progresses in her career. This will definitely be one I add to myself in August and I am already highly anticipating the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the e-arc.

I have NO words for how absolutely good this book is! It is the perfect blend of gothic and dark academia fantasy!
It has a perfect eerily dangerous and exciting world, full of with dark magic, bargains and monsters! Wow. I absolutely loved it!
IT had so many small details that made it perfect: a mystery to uncover, academia, close proximity of the main characters, slow burn romance and a very forbidden one!

If you like brave and stubborn characters, who care for each other's and tend to each other's wounds, you found your perfect book!

I was immediately transported into a Jane Eyre like world, the writing was gorgeously descriptive and flow-y. I loved how the plot evolved and I am thrilled to see what the other books of this trilogy has to offer! SO EXCITED!

Thank you so much for the publisher and Netgalley for the eArc! My opinion is my own.

THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE MIGHT BE ONE OF MY FAV ROMANTSY BOOK OF ALL TIME. i devoured it. It was so good. Kat is everything i want in a FMC. Also lord blackthorne is so hot omg. Their intractions had me giggling and kicking my feet. Also the plot and storyline was so good. The ending had me in a chokehold. Can't wait for book 2.
Thank you netgalley, Jennifer Delaney and Gollancz for the E-arc.

Rating: 5 stars

Tales of a Monstrous Heart is a slow-burn gothic romantasy inspired by Jane Eyre and drenched with forbidden love and endless yearning. This book was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases and it far exceeded my expectations. Tales of a Monstrous Heart is the first book in a trilogy by @jenniferdelaneyauthor and the fact that this is a debut makes it all the more impressive. The fact that I couldn’t immediately devour any further books by Jennifer after finishing Tales was criminal.

If you take just ONE recommendation from me, let it be this one. This book has bewitched me, consumed me, ruined me for any other. Tales of a Monstrous Heart is officially my most highlighted book, and I had an absolute blast reading it. The tension, the banter, the love, the AUDACITY! Words truly cannot begin to describe the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading this book (but I’ll try my best).

If, like me, you love fierce and feral FMCs (with swords), I am honoured to point you in the direction of Katherine Woodrow. Kat is a Fey attempting to graduate from the Institute of Magic and needs to secure a Mage Partnership. However, she is faced with prejudice everywhere she turns, particularly from the Institute’s council, who will seemingly do anything in their power to prevent her from succeeding. Against her better judgement, Kat is forced to accept a Partnership with the elusive Lord Blackthorn as a last resort. Chaos ensues. Kat is the manifestation of everything I love in a character - brave in the face of adversity, loyal, intelligent, and maybe a little unhinged. The way her character developed throughout the book left me in tatters. Watching her deal with her trauma and internalised resentment of her Fey heritage broke my heart and I’m so ready to be battered all over again in book two.

Lord Emrys Blackthorn. My, my, my. I must admit that a good 75% of my highlights are his TANTALISING, LYRICAL, SEXY interactions with Kat. I was hanging onto his every word; Kat, I get it girl. Emrys is mysterious, secretive, brooding, scarred, WET AND HALF DRESSED (IYKYK) (HE’S SO HOT), and yet he’s also thoughtful, loving, compassionate, and willing to sacrifice anything for those he cares for. The thing I adored most about Emrys (and there are many things I do adore about him) was his immediate and unfaltering acceptance of Kat, despite her stubbornness, her heritage, and the chaos that comes with her as a package deal. AND he gives her a nickname with left me permanently swooning. I have SO many questions, more than I began with, and I’m very excited to continue to thirst over him in book two

Tales of a Monstrous Heart’s best kept secret is the SIDE CHARACTERS! I could read a book about every single one of them. Alma, William, Thean, you ALL have my heart. I don’t want to say too much about them because they were a very pleasant surprise, and I’d love for everyone to experience it, BUT I will say that the friendships in this book truly healed a part of me. I have so much love for these characters and I’m excited to see new readers fall in love with them as I did.

The pacing and plot progression in this book was truly fantastic; I was captivated from beginning to end. Readers are immediately thrown into the deep end, beginning Tales in a forbidden library of dark and dangerous texts, and ending Tales with their hearts wrenched from their chests, questioning everything, and yearning for more. I seriously cannot express how much I adored this book. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this wonderful book early, BUT I am nothing if not impatient and the wait for book two will truly be torturous. I am very excited to reread this book alongside everyone else when it releases in August.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the eARC, and for putting up with my endless raving.

My gothic literature loving heart was squealing with delight the whole way through this beautiful and atmospheric book. Set against a dark academia backdrop, the story follows the brave, strong and fierce main woman Kat, as she partners up with the dark and brooding Lord Blackthorn to unravel the mystery of fey disappearances and the rise of dark magic across the land.

It felt like such a breath of fresh air in a time where romantasy books has had a tendency to become one similar story after another. The world, the history and the magic system all felt very unique. The main and side characters are all so well written, their backstories heart wrenching, and it’s found family at its finest!

The slow burn is slow, but oh so worth it, for that build up of tension and desire between Kat and Emrys. Actual butterflies!

And that ending. Is it too early to request book two?!?

I have literal goosebumps, this book is that good.

If you love Jane Eyre and all things gothic, this is the perfect book for you.

I was captivated from the very first chapter and I struggled to put it down. It’s addictive in the best way. It had me questioning everything and left me wanting more.

The characters are brilliant and I loved the relationships that this book has built. The secondary characters aren’t two dimensional, they’re lovable and have their own complex backstories.

Emrys. That’s all I’m going to say. That man. The enigma. I love him.

The ending gave me literal chills. The build up was just as good as the climax and I loved every single second of it.

That cliffhanger though, I’m dying for the next one.

In a bizarre turn of events this book didn’t totally work for me, and trust me I am usually a gothic romantasy fiend. There was something about this story that just didn’t completely interest me and I often found my mind wandering while reading. I would’ve preferred if the plot was more clear because I thought the actual motivation of this story was a bit ambiguous.

If the story had been more engaging for me I can imagine that I would’ve really liked this book. The characters of this story were a big strength in my opinion. I really liked both Kat and Emrys and found the development of their relationship to be compelling.

The atmosphere of the book was also great. I am a big fan a gothic atmosphere which I thought this delivered really well.

I struggled with this one sadly, I found the pacing to be all over the place and I’m genuinely not sure what the over arching plot is supposed to be, it felt a bit muddled.

That being said, I really liked these characters and they have so much potential! The love story again has so much potential as does the world.

Last year I was in a pub listening to a young woman talk about the book she had just had accepted. She was expansive and enthusiastic and as I listened to her I thought, I really must read that. But at the same time I really hoped my reading experience lived up to both my and her expectations.
Reader, it did.
Kat is half fey in a world which has suppressed all non humans for centuries. She has made it against all the odds to the Institute of Magic and all the way to the end of the course. All she needs now is a partnership agreement, the training contract that will enable her to move into employment. But no one wants to partner with a fey no matter how good her grades and when she helps out an undeserving fellow student, her very existence at the Institute is threatened until she is offered one chance. A partnership with the (tall, dark) mysterious Emrys Blackthorn. Soon Kat finds herself in his isolated manor house where all kinds of secrets lurk and darkness waits to trap them while her forbidden attraction for her mentor grows. But Emrys isn't the only one with secrets and as the danger intensifies, Kat struggles to keep hers contained.
Dark, gothic, sensual and original, peopled with believable characters and well thought out worldbuilding Tales of a Monstrous Heart is an unputdownable fantasy adventure. Highly recommended.

Delaney really knows how to create characters that are real and flawed, but you cannot not love them. Plus, the writing was amazing as well. I really enjoyed reading it.

Let me start this review by saying that I completely devoured this book in a way that I couldn’t stop but wanted it to last forever. It was a constant battle to try and pace myself to savour this gorgeous book!

In Tales of a Monstrous Heart we follow Kat and Emrys as they unravel the return of dark magic, the mysterious disappearances of fey and this very strange disease that is plaguing the world. They are thrown int a world of ancient books that hide hideous monsters, dark fiends who play with nightmares and mortal men who wish nothing more than to see them both burn. This is a story of perseverance, courage, found family and love.

Kat and Emrys are two character that I anticipate I’ll be carrying inside my heart for a long time - they must be protected at all costs! I particularly love how mundane and good they are, despise all the ugly things the world has shown and done to them. In their struggles, they decide to be courageous, good and somehow move on with their lives. The traumas and sadness of their pasts is there and you can see how it still influences them in the present and who they’ve become. And despise everything, they still choose to be good. The way their friendship slowly blossoms into something more is beautiful and I could not get enough of them! We need healthy relationships!

I also loved the side characters - I say side but they are as relevant as the main duo! -, Alma and William. They are simply lovely and you must meet them too! The house was another amazing character, full of charm, mischief and definitely a personality of their own! And the enchanted library is gorgeous, full of dark academia vibes and cursed books!

This book kept me hooked the entire time, and I did not see the big plot twists towards the end… and that epic climax of an ending? Had me wishing for book two straight away - and as I am writing this, book one hasn’t even come out just yet! What a beautifully done cliffhanger! This is a truly fabulous debut and a must for all fans of gothic, cosy romantasies! The writing was magnificent, it felt like it was a letter to my soul - and I rarely feel this way about books! I definitely connected to a whole new level with the writing! I can barely believe this is a debut, Jennifer where have you been hiding?!

Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own

***SPOILER FREE***

This was such a great read for fans of both romantasy and gothic fiction!

We follow Katherine Woodrow, a young fey woman, who has suffered extreme prejudice all her life for being different. Her fey blood has made her a social outcast in a world were mortals rule and magic is considered particularly negative when weilded by those who aren't human. To escape the Institute of Magic where she is treated like someone to be feared, she accepts a partnership as a Mage to Lord Emerys Blackthorn and moves to his sentient manor house to work with him.

The nods to Jane Eyre gave this novel an extra fun twist and with the added elements of magic, murderous dark beings and the slow-burn love story, it really was the full package for me! I really enjoyed reading about all the characters, especially William for with his positive attitude and warm personality. Katherine and Alma have such a sweet friendship and I adored how protective Alma was of her. And then Emerys, well. I LOVED him. He's the brooding MMC that dreams are made of!

This is definitely going to be a hit with romantasy lovers and I'll be recommending it to everyone as one to pick up when it publishes in the Summer!

Thank you so much to Gollancz, Orion Publishing Group and Jennifer Delaney for the advanced copy of this book in exchanged for my unbiased review!

This is was phenomenal book; one of the best books I've read this year.

I have been so excited for this book for months; it has sounded more and more incredible with each little tidbit released about it on social media. So, my excitement continued to build. And then, I was lucky enough to receive a sampler containing the first two (or three) chapters last year and I was completely gobsmacked. Just from those few chapters, I knew this was going to be an outstanding read. And boy was I right.

I have absolutely no criticisms for this book; everything was genuinely perfection. The plot, writing, themes, characters, relationships, pacing. Everything was just on point. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best fantasy/romantasy books I've ever read. It is absolutely fantastic.

While there are so many amazing aspects and part to this book, the best is the characters, particularly Kat. I honestly just loved and adored her so much. She is strong, powerful, funny, kind and intelligent. Exactly my kind of protagonist! She also just feels so genuine and authentic, which may sound ludicrous as this is a fantasy book, but she feels so lifelike. At the heart, she is a normal character, who has powerful magic and I LOVED that about her. It helped me to gel with her very quickly. And thank you Jennifer for not constantly going on about her looks!!!! That is always something that irritates me in fantasy books - looks always overshadow powers. Emrys is amazing, and perhaps the best male love interest I've ever read in a fantasy book. Again, he also just feels so authentic as a character; he respects Kat and her powers and treats her well. The way he backs her and stands up for her is beautiful. They have such amazing chemistry and a lovely relationship. They don't rush into anything, nor take it too slowly - it's just the perfect pacing. I just love them so incredibly much.

And let's just talk about the writing - amazing!!!! It is so incredibly well written; you are completely swept away into the story and characters. It is so immersive and detailed, that nothing feels left out. There isn't a single word on the page that shouldn't be there, everything is perfectly slotted into the story. This is a story that has such a deep and almost vivid background too, which just adds another layer to the story. There's a history and lore here.

Loved this book so, so much and would HIGHLY recommend it to all of the fantasy lovers out there!

Thank you NetGalley and Gollancz for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is like Howl's Moving Castle and Jane Eyre had a little dark academia baby and I'm so here for it. After getting to read the sampler a whole back, this book has been a very anticipated read for me!

A scholarly, half-fey FMC desperate to prove her worth, a brooding and mysterious Lord who has a great many secrets, a shapeshifting maid, a horned manservant and a definitely-sentient house all make this a page-turner for sure.

I loved this darkly gothic world, full of rich lore and history, steeped in magic both small and grand, beautiful and terrifying. I cannot forgive Jennifer for that cliffhanger though 😅

This is the sumptuous gothic romantasy you need in your life. A highly entertaining read I thoroughly enjoyed.