My reading year is off to a good start because omg, The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick is so good! This book is a delicious Gothic romance. While I would love to gush about this story and spoil everything, I won’t. This review will be spoiler free.
I like to give a heat level rating for all books with romance. If youāre curious about my rating system, you can check it outĀ here.
Synopsis:
Millicent Foxboro is haunted.
Not by ghosts but by the anguish of her past and the uncertainty of her future. After all, even in the progressive year of 1928, most people would balk at hiring a woman whoād spent two months in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia. So when an uncommon assistantship to a reclusive Professor of mythology falls into her lap with an ungodly salary attached, her desperation for stability overrides her cautious nature.
To Millieās dismay, the widowed Professor Callum Hughes and his estate, Willowfield, are more than she bargained for. The once magnificent home, known for its sprawling gardens and dazzling parties, is falling to pieces after the death of the professorās fragile wife. Whatās more, the staff has been reduced to the only three people not frightened away by rumors of ghosts, leaving the halls empty and languishing in bitter memories.
The professor himself is a grim, intense man with unclear expectations, unpredictable moods, and hungry eyes that ignite Millieās own dormant passions. The closer she finds herself drawn to Professor Hughes and his strange world of flowers and folklore, the more the house closes in, threatening to reveal her secrets. But the professor is keeping secrets of his own and the most dangerous of all is hers to discover.
My Thoughts:
- Rating- āāāāā
- Heat Level-Ā
The Cruel Dark has the most immaculate spooky, Gothic vibes. This is a historical fiction romance set in the late 1920’s. That time period combined with a crumbling mansion and gorgeous, mysterious man? I am HERE for it.
This book did everything right. Northwick did an excellent job describing the dark and crumbling mansion with its spooky locked rooms and gardens. I also loved the characters. Millie and Callum were the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. I was rooting for them to be together even when I shouldn’t have been… I’m not sure what that says about meš The twists in this story left my mouth hanging open many times. I semi guessed one of the big reveals but I definitely didn’t guess all of it. It was so well done and insured that this book will stick with me.
If you enjoyed Dragonwyck by Anya Seton or House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig, I am confident that you would love this book. Honestly, if you are into Gothic romance, historical fiction or just spooky vibes, I think you would enjoy this.
Final Thoughts:
I hope this is a sign of things to come in 2024 because I read some ROTTEN books last year. Please let me know if you have read this book or plan to. I would also love to hear any Gothic romance suggestions you have. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
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