A mysterious and haunting book with great plot, prose, and characters. I honestly couldn’t put it down! It was great for spooky season.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young gentlewitch, in possession of great magical acumen and significant landholdings, is rarely in want of a wife.

Yet that was not so for Edith Rookwood, Gentlewitch of Netherford Hall.”

I’m not going to lie, I think this book had me with this one quote. Queer Pride and Prejudice with witches? Heck yeah sign me all the way up.

I really loved Poppy and her brazen way of just being herself whilst also having an air of mystery to her.

Edith is carrying so many ghosts around with her it’s amazing she can stand up, as well as the expectations thrust upon her by the tragedy that took her family.

This is not a grumpy meets sunshine romance, it’s more of a grumpy meets grumpy, or grumpy meets brooding. And it works. Despite the two main characters both having somewhat sad backstories, it doesn’t stop the book from being amusing.

There’s a crumbling family house to fix up, a curse to break, and a town to win over. So of course some vampires show up just to complicate things. All while meeting the societal expectations of having a ball to welcome the new Gentlewitch.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Natania Barron, and I look forward to reading more about these characters in the next instalment, The Viscount St. Albans, coming out in February 2025.

Gentlewitch Edith Rockwood returns to Netherford Hall in Kent after a mysterious fire in her London home. She faces potential problems in rebuilding, a challenge to her position from distant relatives, and her feelings for her chaotic ad lovely tenant, Poppy. Dark secrets arise, and both women will have to fight for love and living as their authentic selves.

When I read Jane Austen but queer and witches, I was sold. This was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and supernatural elements mixed with some of my favorite elements of Regency England books.

This book wasn't for me. While the writing is good and the characters are interesting, it just didn't hold my attention.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

DNF. Confession time: I have never actually read Pride and Prejudice, and have no intention of ever doing so. Blame a childhood spend in the British school system; I’m amazed anyone comes through that with any appreciation for the classics. (Well done if you’re one of those who managed it!)

Obviously, I’ve picked up vague details here and there, one of which is that the love interest is not an especially pleasant man. Netherford Hall is a faithful homage in that respect, because our ‘gentlewitch’ is deeply unlikeable, and not in any way that I find interesting. She’s just cold and rude and unappreciative – although I’ll give her points for respecting the countryside’s traditions and loyalty.

So I don’t think this is bad, but it’s not for me: the worldbuilding is simpler than I prefer, and while I’m happy to overlook that if the romantic element is engaging, I’m not interested in romances that start off with one person being horrible to another. (Outright villains can be great; nasty people are pathetic.)

It’s very readable, though, so I do recommend it if unpleasant love interests are something you don’t mind. While the tone is mostly quite light, a bit of a warning for heavy themes at least in the beginning, where the gentlewitch has just lost all her family in a house fire.

I had an ARC from NetGalley, thank you so much!!


Here’s what I’m gonna say, this is readable but the “gentle witch” is a total bitch and I know she’s supposed to be Darcy but fuck, at least he was likeable! She’s just an insufferable prat and I cannot stand her versus Poppy (her love interest) who is a little lamb of a person and completely useless but I’m supposed to believe she has “fire” in her??

I requested this arc based on the cover and boy was it a disappointment.

Loved it: entertaining, compelling, well plotted. Loved the world building and the characters
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

While the setup was intriguing, the plot became weighed down by excessive details. Since this is a series, it might have been more effective to reserve some elements for a future installment, allowing the characters in this book to truly shine. I really enjoyed the world-building and loved the dynamic between Poppy and Edith.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Netherford Hall by Natania Barron

First I would like to thank NetGalley and the author Natania Barron for the E-Arc and would like to share a few honest thoughts about "Netherford Hall".

The wonderful, idyllic setting, the different characters and the complex witch folklore promise a complex and intruging, magical, sapphic story, but for me this concept, which already sounded so exciting, unfortunately couldn't be implemented. After making 30 % reading progress , I still felt like I hadn't gotten to know the characters. The focus was too much on sharing information about the family's past and the witchy lore, which isn't bad in itself, but it really affected the pacing, so I really had a hard time focusing on reading.

I was keen to continue reading to learn more about the reserved Gentlewitch Edith and her powers. Poppy and Edith couldn't be more different and I loved Poppy from the very beginning, which made me keep reading! She is a breath of fresh wind and I loved her temperament, and her desire of independence in a male-dominated world. Characters are the heart of a book and I love the dynamics that emerged as the story progressed.

In itself "Netherford Hall" is a solid book with a magic-stystem, that can not be really grasped from the start, because there are so many details and informations and as a reader, I felt a little bit overwhelmed by it! Nevertheless, the found family trope, the lovely historical Regency atmosphere and slow burning romance sweeten this book a bit!

I was a bit disappointed in this one. It felt very slow and the magic system was somewhat confusing to me. 2.5 rounded up

I found this book to be very slow going. While, I usually am able to dive right into a fantasy with minimal confusion along the way. I found this book to be confusing with the introduction of of so many new characters early on. Ultimately, I felt that this book being a spin on Pride and Prejudice and adding in magic was one thing too many.

This sapphic, magical Pride and Prejudice retelling stole my heart (and sleep)! I felt like there was enough flexibility for the story to be fresh and queer (!) while still sharing some similarities with the original. I loved how queerness was a part of this world without rampant homophobia or struggle. The voice of the author and the writing style also made this book stronger.

There's an "are they enemies" start to this that rivals Darcy and Elizabeth. Edith and Poppy do quickly sort it out but the tension was fun.

I liked the family member's of both MCs and their love for each other *and* the found family. There's also an empowering theme of being a little odd, but realizing the power in being different and in finding yourself.

I'm excited for the next in the series!

1.5 out of five 🌶

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

CN: familial death, death of a parent, ableism, fire/fire injury, sex, sexual assault,

This was a DNF for me. It was just too slow to get in to and at points felt clunky and I found we were being told things rather than shown and it was just boring.
I had such high hopes for it but it just didn't work for me.

3 stars as I do think this book will have its audience, it just wasn't with me.

I will devour any Pride and Prejudice retelling you throw at me. Add witches and supernatural tomfoolery and I’m done. Netherford Hall is an adorable homage to the classic love story in Pride and Prejudice. When gentlewitch Edith inherits her family’s estate she meets challenge after challenge. Along the way she meets one of her tenants, Poppy, and they find themselves time and time again entangled in chaos and magical mayhem. With the pressure of her inheritance at risk, Edith knows she must marry but she is not ready.

This book is the perfect mix of regency romance and cozy fantasy and I loved every minute of it. Thank you to Solaris Nova and Netgalley for gifting me a copy (out now!), all opinions are my own.

For fans of:
-Witches and portal magic
-LGBTQIA representation and romance
-Jane Austen and regency historical romance

Netherford Hall had a fun concept but was let down by a somewhat flat romance and an unclear magic system/ world-building.

I would also add this is only very tangibly linked to P&P despite the book title and the comp (like the character archetypes are kinda there, but that's it) and I think the comparison is probably doing more harm than good regarding expectations of this book.

It was a bit hard to get into the book, but once I did it was an amazing read! The world it's written in was a bit complicated at first, but I love the idea of a female head of a family and influential person!!

Netherford Hall
Love in Netherford Volume 1
Natania Barron
Rebellion Publishing
Release date: 13th Aug 2024

Set during an Austen-esque Regency period filled with magic and supernatural creatures, Netherford Hall sees Liege Edith Rookwood return to her ancestral home after a fire in London destroys most of the family and their property.
Edith is now Liege of the Rookwood family, and the town of Netherford whilst true heir Henry is still a boy suffering from nightmares and her uncle Auden, close to her in age, is majordomo. It has been a year since that fire and no investigation has revealed the cause, though there are hints.
This is a world with witches, werewolves and vampires – all descendants of the Fae, now held back behind a barrier between both worlds. Hedge witches fought for the barrier between the human world and the fae, years past, yet they’re not accepted by coven witches or gentlewitches like Edith Rookwood. Like much in this world there is a hierarchy and distinct snobbery.
Poppy and Viola Brightwell, two sisters watch the gentlewoman’s return with anticipation. Initially like stereotypical Austen women, they are excited to see her, and what her return brings, but for Poppy it means something else. Poppy has been slipping in and out of Netherford Hall without the wards pushing her back since her teenage years, so of course she is anxious to meet the gentlewitch. And when she does? Whoosh! Poppy is enraptured by the woman’s bright red hair and trim, feminine figure, even if their meet-cute gives us a remarkably Darcy/Bennett style clash.
One of Poppy’s best friends is Miss Jamini Rawlings-Vijay, the modiste, who seems rather smitten with Uncle Auden when he enquires about fitting the gentlewitch or young Lord Henry.
In this society, it’s is the norm for same gender couples to marry for power or for love, and as is reflected in the fashion, especially by Edith. Women if they please can dress as men do. It’s a Nineteenth Century setting filled with magic, splendour and LGBTQIA+ plus characters as well as some POC characters, like Jamini, sort of like Bridgerton meets True Blood.
At the local pub, The Holly and Sickle, Auden meets the wardens Basil and Molly, who build the wards around Netherford Hall and work to protect the village. They play an integral part in the story arc.
But danger can come in various guises; from the Rookwood-Nourses - cousins who claim to have the deeds for Netherford Hall – to a creature Henry dreams of and the myriad of women vying for Edith’s attention. The latter is probably the biggest hurdle!
We also have the Byrne’s, vampire siblings, who make for great characters, though it isn’t clear at first what their intentions truly are.
Ophelia Byrne, the buxom vampire socialite and her sultry debonair brother – and Auden’s former flame – Laertes, appear both frivolous and devious, but inherently likeable. Laertes is the light-hearted rake we find in many of these books, but it hides a depth we soon discover.
This is part multi-player romance and comedy of manners, mixed with a commentary on social status and gender, supernatural danger, with a hint of spice and the importance of family.
It’s an absolute delight, funny, intriguing and life affirming and I can’t wait for book two.
A wonderful, sophisticated, sapphic romance.

Cute, queer normative, regency-era fantasy with some pacing issues. Giving this a 3.5 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

While definitely inspired by "Price and Prejudice," Netherford Hall is it's own story in a world where queerness is just part of it. Witch society doesn't judge who a witch marries (though the pressure to marry anyone is still there). Unfortunately, the romance between society witch Edith and her tenant Poppy feels all lust with not a lot of love to me. Some of that might be chalked up to magic *insert spoilers here* but I wish they had gotten to know each other better to flesh out the romance. You definitely had that slow burn, stolen glances pacing that is characteristic of Regency era stories, which definitely adds to the "lesbian pulp fiction" nature of the romance.

One of the most standout aspects of the story is how Netherford Hall itself is as much a character as Edith and everyone else. To be honest, the Hall is probably my favorite character in the story other then Uncle Auden. He is the most grounded of the characters and his growing crush on a local modiste is precious. I want to read more about their story!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I tried a few different times to get into it and I just couldn't - I didn't care about the characters. I think it had a lot of potential but something in it just didn't work for me I'm afraid but I'm sure that others would really like it.

Witches, vampires, and magical beings converge on Netherford offers a captivating romp through the regency period, blending intrigue with supernatural elements. The story kicks off with Poppy, the free-spirited daughter of an impoverished gentry family, discovering that the owners of Netherford Hall, where she often wandered, have returned to take up residence. Poppy is an engaging protagonist whose curiosity and spirit immediately draw readers in.

At the heart of Netherford Hall is Edith, the reluctant leader of her family’s coven. After a devastating fire in their London home leaves most of her family dead, Edith arrives at Netherford with her uncle and nephew, unprepared for the leadership role that has been thrust upon her. As distant relatives from America arrive, claiming ownership of the estate, Edith is forced to defend her position despite her lack of training or guidance. This plotline brings tension and complexity to the narrative, keeping the reader engaged.

The growing attraction between Poppy and Edith, who becomes Poppy's employer as a lady's maid, adds a tender and sweet dimension to the story. Their moments together are some of the novel’s highlights, though I found myself wishing for more of their charming interaction. Overall, this is a layered, enchanting tale that will delight fans of regency romance with a magical twist.

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