I gave this one a 3.75, I DID enjoy this - it reminded me a lot of Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier) just with some light smut. The ending was sort of unexpected but you could also see it coming at the same time, I'd probably read more books by this author :) I didn't really like the narrator and it was a bit jarring when the male narrator randomly came in without warning but I also liked that there was a man narrating the mans parts so idk! :)

A truly astonishing debut.
This tale is a perfectly balanced blend of dark intrigue, lusty romance and downright chilling horror. Millie is the perfect protagonist through which to view this twisty tale. Far from a Flapper and desperate to escape her imposed dowdiness, her personality is at once headstrong and contrite. She remains engaging and sympathetic throughout; her observations keeping us rooted in the opulent 1920s setting.
A note about the audiobook: Brilliantly produced and performed, this was an excellent way to consume the story. I liked the decision to have the male characters voiced by a different narrator to set them apart from Millie’s perspective. It made the experience all the more immersive and emphasised the realism of the dialogue.
The most successful element of this book for me is the thrilling, twisting and unpredictable journey Millie goes on. Alongside the stunning descriptions of both a lavish manor and the horrors that lurk inside, there lies a plot so devilishly serpentine that it would rival a golden age crime novel. Armed with more questions than answers, the reader is confronted with a twist ending that would surely have Agatha Christie herself slow clapping in awe (after maybe balking at the more salacious scenes).
This book is beautifully wrapped up and left me feeling slightly bereft when I finished it. There is a cinematic element to this story and, paired with it’s urgency and tension throughout, it left me having to really sit with the story afterwards.
For fans of Rebecca, please give this book a read. It’s an obvious comparison but a worthy one. They’re so different in so many ways but both left me feeling similarly awestruck.

Thank you ever so much to Netgalley and to Bea, I can’t wait to read what you write next.

This is a solid 3 star book. It's fresh enough to not be too predictive, but formulaic enough to be enjoied by the romance lovers. I liked the world that was painted and the settings of the book, it gave a noir sort of feeling that I really appreciate.
I wished the cast of characters were developed a bit more, as the secondary characters were super interesting and delving into their minds would have been fun.
Overall an enjoable read.

First, what a beautiful cover-totally drew me in with the cover alone. I was left wanting for just a bit more after finishing this though…Dark, gothic, romantic mystery vibes were there, but fell short of a cohesive and catching story. I listened to this on audio, I thought the female narrator did a great job as the boom is told in the main female character’s (Millie) point-of-view. The interjections of the male narrator was a bit jarring, and I didn’t like his voice as much (personal preference…)

The Cruel Dark is a gothic mystery with an eerie, dark atmosphere that will have you invested from start to finish. The writing is creepily captivating, and the story itself was well thought of, constructed, and delivered.
After spending some time in a mental ward after suffering a terrible accident resulting in amnesia, Millie finds herself in search of employment. She is hired by a professor and becomes his live-in assistant. During her stay at the Willowfield estate, Millie starts hearing cries and seeing ghosts. She also starts to feel less and less like herself, and eventually, she knows something is wrong. What is going on at this estate?
I really enjoyed this novel - it has such a great gothic feel and the mystery of it kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with every paranormal event. The romance between Millie and Callum was a slow build and wasn't overwhelming at any point, which I appreciated. I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately, I found it difficult to like the female narrator. It's dual narration, and although I enjoyed the male, the female just made me cringe most of the time. I understand her narration was meant to deliver eerie and haunted, but it felt like she moaned her way through the entire read. Aside from that, I'd highly recommend this novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Bea Northwick for this captivating ARC!

I recieved an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I powered through this audiobook in one day. It was pretty fast paced, and there was definitely no "saggy middle". It felt like every scene was necessary for the plot, setting the scene or character development. Parts that I questioned why they were in as I was initially listening became clear after the big reveal. I bet if I was to re-listen or re-read this book, it'd be like a different book. Maybe not to the extent of reading A Court of Thorns and Roses after Reading A Court of Mist and Fury level of feeling like a different book, but more enjoyable nonetheless.

I did successfully predict one of the big reveals, but that had some obvious foreshadowing. I did not see the other big reveal coming, but in hindsight that one was foreshadowed but more sneakily on the part of the author. So I tip my hat to the author. It takes a lot to surprise me.

Much thanks to Bea Northwick, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Possible spoilers

Jane Eyre fans, here you go. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Some readers might find it predictable, but I actually did not see any of the twists coming. Must be having an off day. ;) Northwick might have tried a little too hard to make the twists extra twisty, but not enough to bother me.

I rolled my eyes when Millie and Callum started hooking up; it was all kinds of inappropriate, and it also felt toxic at times. All I could think was, Girl, you are going to get took so hard.... And I didn't want Callum to be a villain. But in the end, everything made sense.

Overall, this is a great gothic romance with a touch of horror and an intriguing mystery. I'm totally going to listen to this again when I get caught up with ARCs. I want to experience it from the perspective of someone in the know.

Oh, and I have to mention the narrators, Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr. They are fantastic. Mitts sounds like she's having phone sex, but since the love scenes are graphic, that's appropriate. Zephyr's voice is so deep and smooth it pickles my brain in happy chemicals. He would also excel at phone sex. It was a little jarring to be listening to a woman narrate then suddenly an actual man pops in to perform the men's dialogue, but I got used to it just fine. They both did great accents.

This spicy, spooky mystery was such a good listen. The only POV is our FMC but the audio is duet and it made such a better experience. All the male parts are done by a male narrator and both narrators do a great job. The plot was good, the characters were good, the mystery was mysterious. All around a great read and DEFINITELY do the audiobook!

✨️💚✨️Audio Book Review✨️💚✨️

Book: The Cruel Dark
Author: Bea Northwick
Rating: 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow. Just wow.

This book absolutely blew my mind.

I seriously didn't know what was going on, most of the time (in a good way), because I was totally on edge for how it was all going to end.

I has never read such a suspenseful romance before and I was so happy to finally pick one up!

I really enjoyed the FMC and found her super relatable, strong, brave, and assertive.

I was intrigued by the MMC ... and that ending! 🤯

You get:
• Gothic Romance
• Spicy
• Sinister Love Interest
• Paranormal
• Mystery
• Don't Trust Anyone
• Slow Burn

I recommend this one if you enjoy spicy, thriller, spooky vibes! Available on Amazon through ebook, paperback, and audio.

4.5/5 stars
2.5/5 spice

Tropes:
Gothic historical romance
1920s setting
Professor/Assistant
Widowed MMC
Trauma/healing
Single POV
Duet narration

Holy plot twist! I don't normally read this genre of dark historical romance with Gothic elements. But I do enjoy some mystery and thriller books, so I was pleasantly surprised when the plot twist happened. I love it when I can still be shocked after years of reading.

I got to listen to the audiobook, and it was my first duet narration (female narrator did all the female character voices and male narrator did all the male character voices). It was a little weird to listen to at first, but then I got really into it. I can see why people love the duets instead of dual.

Anyways, if you're a fan of Gothic romances, you'll love this one. A little bit of mystery and ghosts with a nice dose of spice.

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

The Curel Dark by Bea Northwick follows Millie as she embarks on a new job as an assisant to a professor. Professor Hughes is needing an assisant that is well versed in folklore and can help him organize his mess in his office. Millie has been at the house for just a few days when she starts hearing crying and seeing ghots. Millie has her own secret just like Professor Hughes, as they get to know each other they soon start a torrid affair. Will Millie ever remember what her life was like before she woke up from amnesia? This was a great book and the twist at the end was worht its weight in gold.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 stars

Millicent Foxboro goes to live at a mansion as an assistant to the Professor of mythology. She was in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia after the death of her parents. Gothic ghost story with surprising erotica that I was not expecting.

Fantastic narration by Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr.

This book was SO GOOD! The narration was really well done as well. I was fully engrossed in this story.

I'm always a fan of a dark gothic tale and this one did not disappoint. Right when it seemed things were coming to light and I was already like "oh no!", you're hit with another twist! Loved it.

I loved the authors writing. It was engaging and fast paced. I enjoyed the characters and getting to know Millie. She was spunky and I liked that about her. I wasn't sure about how fast she and the professor got into things, but as the story progresses....

I can't wait to read more by this author.

✨✨ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ ✨✨

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗮 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸
𝘈𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘸
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Haunted by her dark past and uncertain about her future, Millicent Foxboro takes up an assistantship with Professor Callum Hughes in 1928 despite her dark and questionable history. Willowfield, the professor's estate that has fallen into disrepair since his wife's death, is now Millie's home. Professor Hughes interests Millie as much as the mansion does, even when its atmosphere starts to feel stifling. As Millie delves deeper into the professor's world of mythology and flowers, she discovers secrets leading to risks much greater than ever anticipated.
 
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: If you're a fan of Jane Eyre but crave a more intense read, 'The Cruel Dark' offers a brooding hero, a resilient heroine navigating a lonely world, and all the Gothic elements one could desire. The narrative promises a rich atmosphere that delivers on its eerie ambiance, setting the stage for forbidden love, angst, and betrayal. However, despite its captivating writing and Gothic romance, the book's length and occasionally slow pacing left me with a modest three-star rating. While enjoyable, the story sometimes felt wordy and longer than necessary, affecting its overall impact.

𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: This audiobook was very well done; it has dual narration, which helps bring the characters to life. I was not the biggest fan of the male narrator, but that did not detract from the overall quality.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
🖤 Gothic romance
🖤 Dark academia
🖤 Spooky vibes
🖤 Sinister secrets
🖤 Creepy old houses

Thank you to Netgalley and Bea Northwick for providing me with an audioARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Cruel Dark is an excellent debut from Bea Northwick. I deeply enjoyed this dark romance set in a beautifully gothic and creepy landscape and plot. Like others, I truly thought I knew where this was going and if I had not been completely shocked by it, I would have felt comfortable giving this a solid four as I liked most of the book and it kept me interested but I didn't feel like I had been "WOW"ed. And then the twist! I cannot wait to read this again and see this story from a different angle (perhaps from a heartbroken one). The talent Northwick displays is grand and I'm so excited to read more from her.

I didn't love this book. I felt bored through probably 80% of it and only liked the end. It might have been that I didn't love either of the narrators, or maybe this book just wasn't for me. I felt that there needed to be more going on to lead to a bigger buildup. Overall, this wasn't a favorite read of mine.

"You don't know the dangers of this game you're playing Millie."

This single line encapsulates the essence of The Cruel Dark, a novel that stands as a beacon of Gothic romance perfection. Bea has truly outdone herself with this masterpiece, blending darkness and romance into an intoxicating and unforgettable read!

From the moment I started TCD, I knew I was in for a treat, but the book surpassed even my highest expectations.. 🖤

Millicent and Callum's tumultuous journey from enemies to lovers is filled with passion, suspense, and a level of spice that will leave readers breathless. This is not just a dark romance; it’s a spellbinding adventure through the shadows of the human heart and the eerie mists of the supernatural!

The narrative unfolds like a twisty, unpredictable roller coaster, keeping you on the edge of your set the ENTIRE time!

The slow-burn poisoning subplot, intertwined with elements of Celtic folklore, adds a rich layer of intrigue. The "touch her or die" trope is executed to perfection, intensifying the stakes and emotional depth of Millicent and Callum's relationship.

Bea's masterful storytelling is evident in the way she manipulates reader perception. Just when you think you have a character all figured out.. the narrative shifts, revealing new facets and deeper motivations. (Obsessed!) The true villain announced at the end, adds an extra layer of menace and complexity to the story, making every twist and turn even more compelling!

One of the standout aspects of TCD is its portrayal of ghosts and paranormal activity. These elements are not mere backdrops, but integral to the story, adding a wonderfully horrible and captivating dimension to the Gothic romance.

I listened to the audiobook and was so enthralled that I finished it in just two days. The experience was so immersive that I found myself gasping, laughing, and crying along with the characters.
This book hit every mark of the Gothic romance genre for me - from its darkly romantic undertones to its spine-chilling supernatural elements.

The spice level between Millie and Callum is off the charts, earning a well-deserved 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ rating. Their chemistry is palpable, and their journey is as steamy as it is heartfelt.
The Cruel Dark has earned a permanent place in my top five audiobook reads of Summer 2024.

It's a book that demands to be held and cherished, which is why I'm eagerly buying the hardback edition. This is a trophy for my bookshelf, a testament to the sheer brilliance of Bea's writing!

Super thankful to Bea & Netgalley for the opportunity to experience this book.

Bea, you've created a piece of Gothic romance that I will be raving about for a long time to come. Thank you for this incredible, unforgettable journey 🖤

Five stars aren't enough to convey how much I adored this book. It's a haunting, romantic, and utterly perfect tale that I will never forget.

Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing Netgalley Co op and Bea Northwick for the audio Arc of The Cruel Dark.
.Narrated by Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr

I really enjoyed listening to this dark fantasy thriller surrounding Millie and Callum Hughes. The narrative itself was slow to medium paced which allowed for great character development. I loved the historical gothic atmosphere of this book, having been set in the 1920s. The romance side while spicy, was nicely entwined into the error twists. Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr brought the whole story out with their wonderful narration .

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Let me start by saying that I read ‘The Cruel Dark’ and the accompany novella in physical form and enjoyed them immensely. The hauntingly beautiful story was full of twists and turns that kept me invested. I was eager to see what would happen next and anxiously awaiting to find out if Callum was a hero or a monster. I grew attached to Millie (fmc) and the other characters in only a couple hundred pages.

So, when I saw that The Cruel Dark audiobook was available- I instantly requested, hoping for an opportunity to enjoy the book again! I’m sad to say that my experience with the audible telling was not great. I found the narrators to be very overdramatic. The verbiage in this book is thick and descriptive- pushing the reader with many details. That combined with the breathy(?) female voice was an extreme combination. I found myself listening to the audiobook at 1.5 speed just so the book didn’t seem to crawl along at a snail speed. Unfortunately, the male voice was also not up to par. I imagined the mmc to be a young, very professional, academic type. The narrator’s voice was quite deep and husky, too much so for my enjoyment. Some of his lines even sounded like it was coming out in slow motion. I couldn’t imagine hearing ‘Lover’ (the male pov novella) completely read by this person. In my opinion, it is just not a pleasing nor comparable voice for the character.

Perhaps I created an image of the characters in mind when reading the physical book that the audiobook couldn’t align with. I will continue to recommend ‘The Cruel Dark,’ but I think it’s most enjoyable in physical form.
Audiobook: 3 ⭐️
Physical:5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and the author, Bea Northwick, for the opportunity to preview the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Cruel Dark is a spicy dark gothic romance/mystery with Jane Eyre vibes. And the plot...It just doesn't make sense...until it does. Despite the fact that our FMC was allegedly hired for a job she has zero qualifications for (decoding Old Gaelic Fairy Tales and assisting organizing notes for some relevant research?), she never seems to work, constantly taking days off to recover from sleepwalking sexy encounters with her boss in a dilapidated (but fancy when there's a party!) estate. I spent most of this book wondering what on earth was happening here, but the book is short enough that I stuck it out. If you are reading this and wondering, stick it out and you will be rewarded with a hell of a twist ending.
A note about the audiobook: both Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr were great, but I did not love the formatting of MM narrating and voicing all of the female roles and the audio abruptly switching to TZ for the male dialogue only. It felt disjointed though I got used to it over time. I wish there was a way for it to sound more fluid and cohesive.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this advanced listening copy to review!

Also, side note: this story is set in Massachusetts, and the FMC's last name is Foxboro. Go Patriots!