Okay, now this ARC is something I can totally get on board with! This book was absolutely fantastic, and I owe a big thank you to Net Galley for hooking me up with this ARC, even though the book is also on Kindle Unlimited! It has everything I look for in a book - it's dark, spicy, a slow burn, thrilling, and a bit of horror to top it off. My goodness, Bea Northwick really knocked it out of the park with this one. I felt like I was aimlessly wandering the halls of Willowfield, soaking in its spooky vibes. I was completely mesmerized by the dark and tantalizing atmosphere of Willowfield. And that twist at the end? Mind-blowing! Who would've seen that coming, right? Let me just say, this will definitely not be the last book I pick up by Bea Northwick. I can't wait to dive into more of her work. What a stellar debut! And, let's be honest, even though Professor Callum is a fictional character, I couldn't help but be drawn to him. He's just so enchanting! (I think "enchanting" is my new favorite word now). He might just be my new book crush! I'll definitely read this book again in the fall, during the haunting month of October, because it really gives me those cozy yet spooky vibes. If you're a fan of gothic romance with an extra kick, I highly suggest adding this book to your to-be-read list, folks.

This digital ARC was obtainable via NetGalley for an honest review.

Wow. When I say I am shocked I truly am! "The Cruel Dark" began as a haunted, gothic, slow burn romance (what a mouthful) but it's true form is being a good ole mystery. Towards the end I started to make some guesses. I was very close however I did not predict the most important part and I am so surprised. Now, I feel like I have to reread this story all over.

Dark, brooding, and Gothic mystery - shades of Jane Eyre hover, but just enough to whet the appetite for the tangled and dark tale. Quite the twists you may not see coming, makes for a gripping read with a satisfying end.

Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book is a little out of the norm for what I like to read. I tend to stick with fantasy and contemporary romance over the darker more gothic vibes. But this book seemed too good to pass up and I’m so glad I gave it a chance.

This book is gothic and dark, it has Dark Academia and is filled with many mysteries that are begging to be solved. Not only do you not know what happened to the previous lady of the household, but our FMC has lost chunks of her life, memories that have vanished.

She gets a temporary job by working with a reclusive professor and helping him organize his notes and research on fae creatures, benevolent and malevolent alike. He is mourning his lost love, and yet sparks fly as his new assistant starts to challenge him.

Spirits haunt the halls of the manor and refuse to leave our FMC alone, trying to chase her out of the house and prevent her from unraveling the threads of the household.

This book had so many twists and turns and I didn’t see them coming! My jaw dropped at the end of the book as everything came to a head and I’m smacking myself for not catching some of those plot points sooner. The author did well at weaving in hints without spoiling anything.

The chemistry between our MCs was magnetic and I loved watching them grow closer to each other.

Overall, such a great read and I even listened to the audiobook version narrated by @theo_and_madi and let’s just say Madi’s voice saying “Yes Professor” was FABULOUS.

I did enjoy this book. At first, it seemed like a very conventional story but it had some interesting twists and turns. The house seemed like a character in the book. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Millie Foxboro works in a bookshop in 1920s east coast America, she has a troubled past with traumatic amnesia with time spent in a mental institution. The bookshop owner is thinking about retiring and she's offered a short term job with a collegiate Professor Callum Hughes to help him sort his paperwork on various mythological characters and stories from Ireland essentially. The salary is very attractive. She turns up at the once magnificent estate, Willowfield, now going to rack and ruin. three staff only to find Hughes is not the grumpy elderly widower she expected but a reclusive, virile widower in his 30s. OK we know some of what will now happen, and it does, in spades. The house is gothic, built by his grandfather and the descriptions live up to this. The staff are spooky, of course. The death of Callum's wife is haunting him although doesn't stop him chasing after Millie in some decidedly raunchy scenes. Millie keeps seeing apparitions and the whole story becomes even more spooky. Can't really say much more without releasing spoilers! Well written with excellent descriptions, characters a bit predictable though, definitively raunchy scenes which might be too much for some readers and didn't always feel 1920s but who really knows now. 3.5* rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Oh my goodness, the twists and turns! 😱

Millie gets a job assisting a professor in organizing his research in his dilapidated estate. As time goes on, she learns more about his and the home's past. What is real? What is in her mind?

I had zero idea how this would end. Just as you think you're on to things, there's a curveball. Wow! So much in a relatively short book. The writing is descriptive and allows you to feel like you are watching things unfold.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Gladly I have to ask.. What did I read?? I love it so so much, the book really surprised and it was so interesting, the story really was hard to let go and all the mystery involving Millie and Callum and the house and the characters.. Some parts were predictable but not others and the chemistry between them was amazing obviously that the end also bring all the answers we needed and the ghosts were just her mind working to help her.. But I liked the mystic part or at least the mentioned of it

Millie Foxboro is haunted, she doesn’t remember the last few years of her life after her parent’s deaths.
Professor Hughes is a widower, living out on his large estate.
Dr Hannigan met Millie in the bookshop in Boston where she was working.
Little did Millie know he already knew who she was. Both Millie and Professor Hughes have many secrets! Time to find out what they are!

This book kept me up reading all night! I had to put it down only because I needed sleep for work. Otherwise I would have finished it in one go!
The journey of Millie kept me on my toes from beginning to end and it was not the ending I expected.
It was easy to fall in love with the characters from Willowfield estate.

Even the most loveable characters have some interesting secrets they are hiding!

I would highly recommend this book, the writing was seamless! Be mindful though if you are not open to spicy scenes as there are quite a few! Well written, suspenseful, mysterious and a little bit spicy!

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 :)

Bea Northwick's The Cruel Dark is a captivating gothic romance that weaves a tale of secrets, desire, and the ghosts of the past. Millicent Foxboro, a woman grappling with the trauma of her own amnesia, finds herself drawn into the enigmatic world of Professor Callum Hughes and his decaying estate, Willowfield. Northwick masterfully crafts an atmosphere of unsettling beauty. The description of Willowfield, once a vibrant hub of social life, now shrouded in neglect, perfectly encapsulates the emotional state of its inhabitants. The house itself becomes a character, with its creaking floors and echoing halls acting as a constant reminder of the secrets it holds. Millie's journey to find herself while entangled in the professor's cryptic world is both compelling and emotionally resonant. The author delves into the complexities of Millie's past, exploring the societal prejudices she faces as a woman with a mental health history. Her desperation for stability and her yearning for connection add a layer of vulnerability that makes her a deeply relatable protagonist.
The relationship between Millie and Professor Hughes is a slow burn, filled with unspoken desires and a simmering tension that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The professor, a man shrouded in mystery and haunted by his own grief, is both intriguing and perplexing. His enigmatic nature and the constant sense of danger lurking beneath the surface add a captivating layer to the narrative. Northwick expertly interweaves elements of mythology and folklore into the story, adding a layer of mystique and symbolism that enriches the narrative. The themes of loss, grief, and the struggle for redemption resonate deeply, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of melancholy and reflection. The Cruel Dark is more than just a captivating romance; it's a haunting exploration of the human psyche and the enduring power of secrets. I highly recommend this book, this is a book that stays with you long after the final page is turned, leaving you pondering the mysteries of the past and the secrets we all carry within.

I simply couldn't put this down once i started it! Every aspect of it was so captivating and engaging. This book is definitely for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with lots of suspense and a romantic sub plot. Expect lots of dark academia vibes, dark secrets, and some paranormal elements too. It is defiantly a mix of genres and tropes, but it was done in such a perfect way that it seemed totally, hauntingly, unique.

The storytelling throughout was beautiful and both atmospheric and suspenseful, with a lyrical quality to it that made the whole journey a delight to read. There were so many plot twists and turns, and the author paced the story so well, while simultaneously keeping a lot of the characters motivations and reasons secret until it was time for a perfectly timed reveal.

There is romance towards the end (maybe halfway point) of the book, but it is the definition of SLOW BURN. It was delicious and captivating, tension filled and HOT. It made perfect sense for this to have a slow burn romance with everything that was happening plot wise, but also what the both of them had been through in their pasts making them a little hesitant to the prospect of romance.

I really didn't expect things to end the way that they did, but it was fantastic! Again, i was on the edge of my seat reading this, and had the best time throughout the whole book.

A massive thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and author for giving me the chance to read this early <3

The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick. I found it atmospheric, suspenseful and I just had to know the answers and what happens. I read almost in one sitting. I was fully immersed in Millie's journey as she began her new life in Willowfield, uncovering dark secrets and hidden motives. The author skillfully crafted complex characters with concealed traits and agendas, keeping me guessing until the very end.

The slow-burn romance between Millie and Callum was captivating, and the eerie atmosphere of the house added to the sense of foreboding. The twists and turns were expertly handled, leading to a stunning conclusion that left me breathless. I didn't see it coming, and it was absolute perfection! This book is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful storytelling.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Northwick Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow, wow, wow. I could not put this down.
This gothic historical romance, set in the 1920s follows the character Millicent Foxboro, who takes a job with Professor Callum Hughes at his estate. At first, Millie is put off by the professor's cold demeanor, which made me curious to see how their relationship might develop into a romance. While working at the estate, she comes across a journal belonging to the professor's late wife, revealing some unexplained experiences similar to her own. As she investigates the mystery of the wife's fate, she finds herself increasingly drawn to the professor.
This book is beautifully written, with eerie imagery, and elements of Celtic mythology. Expect dark academia vibes, a grieving lover, dark secrets, and paranormal twists, along with some romance and a bit of spice.

Thank you to Victory Editing Net Galley Co-op and Net Galley for the eARC. All opinions are my own

"Why did I always find myself with the ashes of something once extraordinary in my hands?"

Gotta go with 5 stars for #thecrueldark by Bea Northwick. So unexpectedly fabulous - and how. It was scary and seductive and thrilling - a true gothic with a little bit of something extra thrown in. Millie's a little off her game, having lost 4 years of her life to what she can't recall, and she's mortified by it. With nothing in the way of family and no way to support herself, she accepts an offer from a Professor Hughes to help catalog his works/transcribe his notes, she sets out for Willowfield with little choice but to succeed.

Some very nice twists at the end, I read this one in two days, that's how good it is.

P. S. thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 & 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭, 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞.

𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚, 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥—𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧! 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭, 𝐈 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲—𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.

𝐀𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝! 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲.

𝐻𝓊𝑔𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝐵𝑒𝒶 𝒩𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽𝓌𝒾𝒸𝓀, 𝒱𝒾𝒸𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝐸𝒹𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

I really enjoyed this book. For being a slow burn, the spice was really done well. Everything was so elegantly written that my mind could picture clearly this entire book playing out in my head while reading it. I wasn't expecting the ending. I very much enjoyed it!

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the editor for sending me an advance copy of this upcoming title. Your hard work and dedication to this project are truly commendable, and I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to review it before its official release.

The depth and quality of this work are a testament to your meticulous attention to detail and your passion for bringing exceptional stories to life. From the engaging narrative to the well-developed characters, it's clear that a tremendous amount of effort has gone into every aspect of this book.

I am genuinely excited about this title and eager to share my thoughts and insights. Having the chance to read it in advance has been a wonderful experience, and I am confident that readers will be just as captivated by it as I am.

Thank you once again for this incredible opportunity. Your support and trust in my feedback mean a great deal to me. I look forward to continuing to work together and witnessing the success of this fantastic book.

This book was haunting, terrifying, and completely exciting. I was drawn in from the very start, and brought to Willowfield with Millie as she embarked upon this new chapter. The darkness was done so well in this book, hidden secrets and motives. Hidden character traits and agendas. I loved watching Callum fall for Millie, and her for him. The entire house made everything feel so sinister, and I couldn't decide whether to root for Calllum or not. I did not expect things to unfold the way they did in the end, holy wow!!! So good though!!!