What a disappointment.

The premise is excellent, and the beginning is a strong start, but things go downhill soon after.

The characterization of the MC is extremely inconsistent: we are told (very clearly) that she is stubborn, and yet for something extremely important to her, she suddenly becomes someone who gives up immediately. Her life experiences up to the beginning of this book coupled with the intelligence she has seem to often go out the window and we suddenly have a naive character. We are also told over and over again, and again, that she loves books. So much "telling", not enough showing.

Eventually it felt like Ivy was just "there" and the world was happening to and around her, but she could've easily been replaced with any other character and the story would have remained just as uninteresting.

The author took on more than they could handle.

‘The Last Heir to Blackwood Library’ by Hester Fox was insanely atmospheric, full of mystery, and had a great, strong female protagonist. Definitely recommend!

A bit mystery, a bit occult, and romance to mix it all up with. Fox managed to keep me hooked even though the main character annoyed me quite regularly.

I loved this novel. The author is so descriptive of the setting. Imagine lots of moors. I found myself trying to figure out what was happening with the main character and unable to put the book away.

I loved the gothic feel in The Last Heir to Blackwood Library and the main character, Ivy Radcliff is the perfect protagonist to carry this haunting story!

Ivy is alone, having lost her family post WWI when she inherits Blackwood Abbey. Cold and remote, Ivy’s delighted by the library despite warnings from others to avoid it. From the beginning, there’s something strange yet familiar about the library – a home away from home but soon, Ivy wonders if the words of warning should have been heeded as she senses a malicious presence within the Blackwood library.

Wonderfully eerie and gothic with the perfect setting, The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is a cozy read with a light romance that didn’t disappoint.

Stars: 2 out of 5.

DNF at 75%.

This was going to be a solid 4 or 5 stars book until about 50% into the story. The setup was wonderful. Old manor that used to be an abbey, the moors and the fog, the cold and unwelcoming servants, and a mysterious library... What is there not to like about this?

Unfortunately, things go downhill from there. And not in small part because of the protagonist's actions. For someone who constantly says that she doesn't need anyone to take care of her, because she was doing that just fine on her own, thank you very much, she sure makes a lot of stupid decisions.

Like not heeding the warnings of her staff about the library, or about associating with certain people. Like trusting a man who she doesn't really know from Adam, just because he was nice to her and likes talking about books. Like accepting his marriage proposal after barely knowing him a few weeks and going on a couple dates. Especially when even she notices his unhealthy fixation on her library... just because she is lonely and feels unappreciated. Strong independent woman, yeah right. 

That's the major problem with this book. No matter how much the author tries to show Ivy taking some action, and making some decisions, like organizing a book lending club, she isn't an active player in this story. She doesn't push the story forward. None of her actions progress anything. Things happen to her. In essence, she has no agency in this story at all. I understand that it was supposed to convey her dismay and confusion at progressively loosing her memories, but it misses the mark here, in my opinion. She comes across and pathetic and helpless, yet also stubborn and pigheaded when she shouldn't be. She gives up all resistance the moment she encounters any difficulty.

For example, when she finds her journals shredded, she immediately abandons the idea of keeping a diary of her days. I would immediately create another diary and keep it on my person at all times, and yes, continue to write down everything that happens. She just sweeps all the evidence into the fire and doesn't even confront her staff about this... or go to town and call her friend Susan, or do anything but continue to flounder in bewilderment. 

This might work for some readers, but this passivity made the book more and more boring to me. To the point that I started skimming ahead to see if Ivy would even try to fight for he freedom and sanity, but by 75% of the book she was just as pathetic - a prisoner in her own home... And I didn't care to find out what would happen in the end. So I gave up.

PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of the last heir to the Blackwood library by Hester fox. This was very good I was surprised and worth the read. Looking to get a few copies for my book shop.

THE LAST HEIR TO BLACKWOOD LIBRARY is a beautiful gothic tale filled with intrigue, a hint of the supernatural, and a woman at the center struggling to make sense of it all. Fox is truly a master of creating darkly complex stories using the era and environment surrounding the characters to enrich the narrative.

From the beginning to the end, Ivy, Blackwood Abbey, and all the characters pulled me down the rabbit hole right with them. The mystery surrounding the heirs, the setting of post-WWI England with all the societal constructs, and simply the atmosphere of the Abbey give the reader a sense something wicked lays within these pages.

Having read three of Fox’s books previously, I can honestly say this author never disappoints me. The characters are candid and face real emotions. The worlds she creates are rich and though at times dark, always have a glimmer of light peeking through the cracks. THE LAST HEIR TO BLACKWOOD LIBRARY is another book I relished spending reading.

For those who like gothic, mysterious, and enchanting reads- this one is for you. Full of atmosphere and hauntingly romantic - fans of Allison Saft and Sarah Penner will love this. Also, there is a haunted library so how can you not enjoy it?

3.5 stars

You'll feel like you've been transported to the wet moors of 1920s Yorkshire when reading this moody, paranormal novel.

Ivy Radcliffe is an orphan living in London who learns that she's the only heir of a peerage in Yorkshire. Quickly, she's renamed Lady Hawthorne and living in a drafty, eerie house where things literally do go bump in the night. The evasive staff (including brooding chauffeur Ralph) and Ivy's increased forgetfulness keep things on edge, yet Ivy's discomfort is soothed by the house's big, gorgeous library. Yet all is not what it seems as paranormal forces from the past and evil in the present make Ivy their new target.

I loved all the talk of books and Ivy's goal of sharing her love of books with her new neighbors. Her romance with Ralph was intriguing, but since most of their courtship was not described on the pages (I don't want to spoil why this happens), it was hard to become invested in them. The novel started off strong with a rags-to-riches heroine, evocative prose, and a compelling mystery. Yet, in the last half of the book, things seem to drag a bit until it reached a too-pat-for-me ending. Still, if you love books about bibliophiles with a paranormal bent, this is a strong choice.

I love gothic romance but I'm not quite a fan of WWII-era books. However, this book's plot, characters, and general writing kept me engaged. I've never read a book by Hester Fox before but I'll definitely read another now!

I really wanted to love this book because the premise was intriguing and I've loved the author's previous books. Unfortunately, something just fell flat--maybe it was the slower pacing or the difficulty I had connecting with the main character. All of the elements of a fantastic story were there, but it was like I was reading it just to get to the end so I could find out what happens, not really to enjoy the craft and the world and the characters.

(Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.)

This book was just so lovely. Fox is a master at creating creepy gothic books, and this one being centered in an abbey library just makes it even better.

I really loved Ivy as a character. She is clever and brave and independent, and is the type of woman I like to read about. The deeper I got into the story, the more I wanted to know.

Looking back, I think I stopped with 4 stars because I think I wanted *more* of the story. By that I mean more of the library, more of the manuscript, more of the backstory. I feel like I only got what was right on the surface. Once things started happening, they wrapped up a little quickly, and I think that's also part of the issue.

Overall, though, I really loved this beautiful book.

I'm a Hester Fox fan and I adored the premise of this story, but it missed the mark for me. The motivations of the MC don't feel believable and the supporting characters are flimsy. A dark, atmospheric setting is a hallmark of a gothic novel, but it falls flat here. The plot is weak, with several holes, and a rushed, chaotic resolution that feels thoroughly unsatisfying. Overall, it seems that Fox got lost in her own story. A good gothic tale requires a tight rein on the author's part. While characters may become disoriented by their experiences and consumed by self-doubt, enough control must be exerted by the author to protect the reader from feeling entrenched in chaos as well. Drawing the reader in and playing on their assumptions is one thing, but leaving them scratching their heads with no idea how the author has jumped from point A to B creates an unpleasant reading experience.

2.5 stars rounded to 3, and I feel so sad about it. There was great potential here, but the execution just didn't work.

This was overall an enjoyable read with an interesting concept.

However, it was a bit of a challenge to get through…. Part of it might have be the pacing, which was quite slow especially at the beginning. The memory issues of the main character also exacerbated this because the reader knew much before she did there was something going on - but without any clear reveals. It also made the character harder to deeply connect to. Personally, I think having a slightly different format, with some other POVs, would have really helped this.

Also, I felt like the tone of the prose didn’t quite match the atmosphere of the book overall.

I did still enjoy it, but it wasn’t a standout.

I loved this novel! It's probably because I secretly wish that I could inherit a vast British estate with a mysterious library, but regardless, it was such a great read. It had the perfect blend of mystery and intrigue mixed with every day normalness. Hester Fox is one of my favorite authors, so I'm thrilled that her latest did not disappoint!

Ivy Radcliffe is now Lady Hayworth, owner of Blackwood Abbey in the Yorkshire moors. She has nothing keeping her in London after her brother died in the Great War, so she moves into her new property. Its library is wonderful, with familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. There is a presence in the library and rumors about the abbey’s previous owners. Odd events occur and grow more sinister, so it's up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries.

Ivy is new to the nobility, so she isn't comfortable with the distance servants have from her or that she is expected to live a life of idleness. Odd things happen to her almost immediately, feeding her belief in spirits. It doesn't help that staff warn her away from doing things without explanation because that only makes her double down harder. She gets caught in that same snare so that the actual explanation comes too late for her to do anything about it. Ivy is forced to be clever, as she's essentially alone against a group of men willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. The ending wasn't exactly what I expected; I thought a lot of the negative effects would be completely undone. But magic leaves its mark, even if curses can be broken, just as the war left trauma in its wake. It fits and is a hopeful ending to build from.

I'm sure there are many people who will enjoy this book, but it really wasn't for me. So silly...story and main character. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

The idea was really interesting, but after like half of the story the plot became a bit too fast. I can't explain much better without entering into spoilers, but I feel it could have been paced a bit better. But, the overall plot was interesting and felt new.

Ivy Radcliffe doesn't know what she's signing up for when she signs on the dotted line to become Lady Hayworth. but what she does know that life as a Lady in Yorkshire has to be better than her one of poverty in London. But Blackwood Abbey is a foreboding sight, and the servants manners leave much to be desired. But there is one room that, despite warnings to stay away, makes Ivy feel she could call this place home... The Library. Drawn to it's duty shelves filled with both strange and familiar texts, she finally feels a little at home. But she also senses a presence in the library, one that flits between the shelves, and disappears whenever Ivy gets up the nerve to look. She knows the rumours surrounding this place, about the Mad Monk and the hauntings, the previous owners meeting untimely deaths, and at first Ivy chalks it all up to nothing but gossip, but as the hauntings grow more sinister and Ivy starts to loose herself, she will have to dive headfirst into the history surrounding Blackwood manor and reclaim her story, before it vanishes into the Library forever.

I buddy read this with Susan over at Novel Lives and we both ended up loving it. The Last Heir to Blackwood Library had the perfect blend of Gothic/horror/fantasy and we both devoured it. The story is told from the POV of Ivy, a young woman who lost all of her family in the War and suddenly finds herself inheriting an estate in Yorkshire. She's a brilliant character, just the right amount of feisty and stubborn but she's also, in parts, an unreliable narrator (I can't say why because of spoilers.) As the story progresses she starts to loose those aspects of herself, becoming more withdrawn and a mere ghost of a previous self, but she is still someone willing to fight for herself, her story, as well as others, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her on her journey.

Alongside Ivy, the story follows the servants from Blackwood Abbey Mr and Mrs Hewitt Butler and Housekeeper of the Abbey, Ralph the Driver & Arthur Mabry another estate owner in the area who welcomes Ivy to Yorkshire. Thanks to Fox keeping our side cast tight knit we get to spend plenty of time with them, allowing us to root for the ones we like and wish nasty things on the others. I will say that Fox does a master job of keeping us on our toes when it comes to who to trust. All the characters give Ivy differing information, little drips of it, but never enough to know who might be telling us the truth.

Fox's writing style and storytelling made for one atmospheric read. It's wondrously Gothic, with some horror elements and a bit of fantasy thrown in for good measure. There's so much about this book I want to shout about, mainly about the Library, but I can't because of spoilers and it is killing me. Suffice to say, if you've always liked the idea of an almost living library, one that becomes a character in of itself, then you need to pick this book up. Fox brings Blackwood Abbey as a whole, but especially the Library, effortlessly to life thanks not only to following Ivy's story, but also learning about the History of the Abbey from other characters. It's got a cult filled with people who think they deserve something simply because of their lot in life, and is wondrously feminist in parts.

I will admit that, for the start of the book, I wasn't sure where the story was going, and the pacing was slightly off in parts, but Fox's lyrical and immersive writing ensured I stayed glued to the pages never the less. Her execution of the plot twists was exceptional and, although Susan and I had guessed a few of them, it never made them hit any less when they inevitably cropped up in the story. There was a romance arc, that's kind of a love triangle, but not really ... with one truly heartbreaking twist ( another thing I can't properly talk about). There are two love interests, but in Susan's and my eyes there was only every going to be one winner and the other we trusted about as far as we could throw him. We're kept on our toes though and it's only when we hit the big twist of the story that we realise the true depravity of a certain character.

I adored this book, and it's one I want to scream about but the big twists make it near impossible. If you enjoy Gothic stories with a feminist twist, some slight horror, a Library that feels as alive as our character and want a romance filled with heartache then look no further!