An interesting tale, a love letter to the mysteries old libraries hold. Had trouble connecting with our main character, pacing was solid and the language was lovely.

I love a good gothic historical story, and add a bookish element and there is no way I'm going to be able to resist reading it. This is probably why it is easy to understand how The Last Heir To Blackwood Library ended up on my shelves, because this newest story by Hester Fox offers both. I've enjoyed her work in the past, and there was just something about the blurb, the Blackwood abbey and its secrets that made this story sound irresistible. And while there were things that didn't work as well as expected for me, as a whole it turned out to be a solid read.

One of the highlights for me was without doubt the Yorkshire setting. I loved the prologue and the 14th century timeline, and I almost wish that we could have had more of this POV throughout the story. I would have loved to learn more about the origins of the abbey! That said, I did love the 1927 timeline as well, with the post WWI references and the descriptions of the Blackwood Abbey as well as life as it was back then. The Yorkshire setting really came through, and the descriptions of the abbey gave the story that perfect gothic vibe.

The Last Heir To Blackwood Library is quite hard to put inside a neat little genre box. While it's true that it is essentially historical fiction with its 1927 setting, you will also find paranormal horror and fantasy elements in the abbey's history and what is happening to main character Ivy. There is even romance incorporated as well, and of course you have the mystery around the abbey's secrets. I mostly liked this mix of genres, although I personally could have done without the romance and especially the love triangle.

As for the characters... I think this is part of the issue I had with this story. I don't think that they were developed to a satisfactory level, and some of their traits felt quite cliche. I don't think that their behavior was consistent either. Take Ivy for example: she is supposed to be stubborn and smart, but she lets Arthur do what he does without truly fighting back? Basically giving up without really trying? This just wasn't credible to me and kind of put a damper on things. I also feel that there was just too much miscommunication and the situation could have easily solved a lot sooner if the rest just explained the truth to Ivy (even though she would probably forget it again).

The pace was also a lot slower than expected, and certain parts of the plot dragged considerably (especially in the first half). Things did improve later on, but the balance kind of tipped to the other side and I felt like the solution of the whole problem was rushed and a bit too easy. It felt like the author was trying to give us a nice clean ending all wrapped up in a nice bow, and it didn't fit with the rest of the story.

That said, I still love the premise of The Last Heir To Blackwood Library, and Hester Fox is fantastic at creating that perfect gothic atmosphere. The Blackwood Abbey with its library and secrets is without doubt the star of the show!

At 38% I know that this book is not to my taste. There will be many who enjoy this gothic horror story. It’s just not for me. DNF

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. I regret that I am unable to finish and give a complete review.

This is a sad review since not only could I not bring myself to finish this book, but I was excited about the premise and the beginning. I DNF at page 206 out of 330 because I'd just had enough of nothing happening.

I like the premise of a working-class woman suddenly inheriting land, a manor, and servants from a distant relation she's never met. I dislike Ivy's realization that things between her and Arthur are moving quite quickly-too quickly-but she continues on.

I LOVE the emphasis on historical events and their repercussions in the backstory. It is set after the Great War and many lost friends, family, loved ones, and their lives but there are also those that bear scars from returning-or those that never went.

The staff at Blackwood Abbey is interesting, uninviting, and stiff which comes as no surprise because many of them have served several masters of the house and Ivy is just another placeholder.
This definitely has the gothic academia feel to it but I'm a little sad that as excited as Ivy is about her professor father and his knowledge of esoteric manuscripts that she only seems to be interested in novels-especially given the Prologue of the book. There is just so much telling us that Ivy likes books.

Dear God, Ivy is not only naive-that’s not a bad trait in itself- but trusting when she has reason to not be. She is a young woman who has lost her family to war and sickness and had to make her way herself so she shouldn't be THIS naive.

I think if anyone found their diary torn to shreds while they had been away the response would be I’ll keep a smaller portable notebook on my person instead. Ivy just gets a bit upset and never tries again. This is conflicting because we are TOLD she is stubborn, yet not shown how she is stubborn.

I do also realize there is a difference in the time period and how things progress, but I am quite annoyed that she has known Arthur for a few weeks, gone out with him a few times and suddenly they are engaged. This is definitely a product of her being a naive romantic but it's still annoying since she’s supposed to be a learned woman as well.

I’m about halfway through the book and those two points, not to mention this mystery we’ve been teased with and haven’t really had any new information about, would normally be enough for me to DNF. Since this is an ARC, I will give it a bit more of a chance. Also, I usually love unreliable narrators, but this just isn’t done as well, I suppose.

Ugh. I just can’t keep on. Ivy is too clueless, too helpless, too stubborn and she is just a passive subject while the plot happens to her. She is a boring character that only seems to exist for plot reasons. Page 206 out of 330 and not much has happened in those 200 pages, not to mention the huge plot reveal only just happened and has to be wrapped up in the remainder. There is too little information given to the reader as they keep the main character ignorant.

"The Last Heir to Blackwood Library" features Ivy who has just lost all her immediate family in WWI, but then finds out she is the last heir to Blackwood Abbey and is now Lady Hayworth. Once she arrives at Blackwood, she finds surly servants, a locked library, and mysterious memory loss.

There are such good bones in this story: the Gothic setting, unreliable narrator, ancient evil, ghosts, and spookiness. However, the pace is absolutely glacial. I wasn't interested in the story most of the time. I liked the setting, atmosphere, and ancient mystery a lot, which is why I kept reading, but I didn't care about the characters at all. They were two-dimensional; everyone's place in the story is obvious right from the beginning. The romance isn't natural because we don't see any of it actually happen due to Ivy's memory loss, and I wish it just weren't there. I was also very annoyed that we never see Ivy reunite with her friend from London. Her friend saw all that craziness and then just forgot about her? Completely unbelievable.

I think there's an audience for this book, but I wouldn't read it again and may not pick up other works by this author.

One of the most original and eerie gothic novels I’ve read in some time, THE LAST HEIR OF BLACKWOOD LIBRARY had me turning its pages deep into the night. Hester Fox’s delectable latest unspools a dark, eerie fantasy aimed at every book lover who’s ever dreamt of living in a library. You don’t want to miss this one!

As soon as Ivy Radcliffe arrived in Yorkshire and saw Blackwood Abbey, I was hooked. I think every book lover has dreamed of owning/inheriting/living in a grand library... though the cost Ivy pays for owning the Blackwood Library is very steep. I loved the concept and Fox does a great job of establishing the atmosphere of the location. I did spend the vast majority of the novel screaming at Ivy for being so naive and making such poor choices... but I'd wager was intentional and not a mistake by Fox.

I thought the Blackwood Abbey mystery and curse was done well and was interesting. My one gripe is that the resolution was anticlimactic and a bit of a let down with how it all played out (I was hoping for MORE... more struggle, more obstacles, for it to just be more difficult all around). I also expected the events at the beginning of the novel (pre-meeting Ivy) would have come back around more than they did at the end.

Overall though, this was a fun read and the last 30% had me on the edge of my seat and playing the "just one more chapter" game at night because I needed to know what happened next and how it would all be resolved.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House in exchange for an honest review.

** “If there’s one thing the war taught me, it’s that we can try to forget and push away memories all we want, but we are still the same, damaged people. Those forgotten memories shape us as much as the remembered ones.” **

Hester Fox offers up a delightfully chilling Gothic thriller with “The Last Heir to Blackwood Library.”

When Ivy Radcliffe shockingly learns she is the last remaining heir to Blackwood Abbey, she leaves her life in London to become Lady Hayworth. Finding herself on an estate with strange feelings and occurrences, she soon begins to lose memories, all while experiencing strange, supernatural events.

What power does Blackwood and its infamous library have over Ivy, and will she be able to escape it?

Fox creates an incredible twisty plot filled with intrigue and dark moments. She develops enigmatic characters that readers will question until the very end. She also reminds us of some good themes, like the importance of second chances; believing in ones self; the world is as large as you allow it to be; and the power of memories and one’s story.

Five stars out of five.

Graydon House provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

4.5 stars rounded up

This gave me all the creepy gothic atmosphere I could ask for! The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is set in the UK post WWI. Ivy is a young woman living in London who has lost her family to the war and illness. But then she suddenly inherits a title and estate from a distant relative and her life changes. Formerly an abbey, she becomes guardian to a mysterious and probably haunted library. One that seems to give her headaches and make her struggle with her memory...

I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic tale and if you like an unreliable narrator for good plot reasons, this definitely delivers. True to form we get a gothic story of supernatural horror, plus a slow burn romance from Hester Fox. This was fantastic. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

A couple things I didn't hate: the book/writing was indeed "atmospheric"; I could easily picture the people and places. And it WAS a fairly quick read.

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library had plenty of promise. I was enjoying it well enough for the first ~70-80%. But then it just got ...sloppy. The 'unreliable narrator' device complicated things far more than I felt was necesary. Additionally, I was a bit irritated that the prologue turned out to barely get referenced later (while I was expecting it to play a much bigger part). On top of those issues, the main character was just frustrating and annoying; pretty much every decision she made was dumb and/or reckless (which was even more maddening because of all the proclamations of how independent she was, how long she'd had to "take care of herself", etc).

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: holding someone against their will

I am always intrigued by books by Hester Fox, so I requested this one right away. Here is what I thought:

+ The writing is lush and engaging. I could envision Ivy going to Yorkshire to live in this haunted, old abbey. There were moments the story gave me the chills and creeps. It had all the gothic vibes I was expecting from this author.

+ I like the twist in the story because it was totally unexpected. There is a sentient, evil library – which I thought was pretty cool. I was afraid for Ivy because even I didn’t know what was going on until it was explained, but I could sympathize and feel her confusion and terror when certain things start happening to her.

+~ Ivy is an unreliable narrator which is fascinating and frustrating at the same time. By the middle of the book, I was so irritated with her decision making! There is an explanation to her behavior but you have to keep reading.

~ Though this is a quick read, there is so much information withheld from Ivy it was very frustrating. I just was wishing someone would tell her something to help her out. I just kept judging her and saying she was very naive but there is more to the story that I can’t reveal.

~ There were some parts to the story that felt disjointed. The romance didn’t quite work for me, it could have, but the way the story is written – it just didn’t work for me. And after the explanation about the Abbey’s library – everything felt rushed from then on to the end. I wish there were more creepy scenes, and more incidents with the library books!

Tropes: sentient library

Why you should read it:
*you like gothic, historical fantasy
*the atmosphere of the Abbey, the library, the writing is engaging
*Ivy is an unreliable narrator

Why you might not want to read it:
*some parts of the story is rushed, romance didn’t work for me

My Thoughts:

I’m always picking up a Hester Fox book because I know the gothic vibes will be there. I love how her writing captures a setting, in this case, Yorkshire and the Abbey. I love the creepy vibes and wish it were creepier! I enjoyed the twist in the story about the library and wish there were more instances where we got to see the library in action. The romance didn’t work for me and I do think the ending was rushed but I still found it entertaining.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It was so different than what I expected but what the story ended up really being about was greater, more wonderful, and more meaningful than I anticipated. The main character of the book is just a delight, and her love of books, and all that they can impart, is evident throughout the novel. Fox transports the reader to a fantastical, magical reality where books take on a life of their own...and yours. This was wonderfully constructed from start to finish and I look forward to more works from this author!

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to figure out the mystery here! I love the gothic vibes and the hints of romance.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. This review contains my own interpretations and thoughts on the book and may also contain plot spoilers.

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox is a light, entertaining read set in post-ww1 London/Yorkshire that leans softly into the occult and historical fantasy genres. The premise of the book is that there is a supernatural force emanating from Blackwood library that feeds on the life-force and memories of its owners. The main character Ivy unexpectedly inherits the title (Hayworth) and property upon the demise of the previous occupant and become the next victim, her mind slowly breaking as she starts to forget conversations she's had, actions she's taken, and entire days of her life. Of course there is a love interest, a man of all trades employee of the Abbey, Ralph, who struggles to cope as Ivy repeatedly forgets the existence of their romantic relationship. And a Mrs Hughes and Carson couple (Downton Abbey) who are the latests generation of stewards of the Abbey - they run that frustrating line of wanting to look after Ivy while refusing to give straight answers to any of her questions. Indeed much of the book seems to be Ivy asking simple questions and everyone around her either misleading her or refusing to cooperate. There is a historical aspect to the book, it begins centuries before the events of the books when the Abbey was still a monastic order and introduces a young nun who collects the knowledge of pilgrims in a manuscript which she sought to keep from the hands of evil by encrypting it with a secret code. And an evil, vile monk who twisted this knowledge for his own nefarious ends and subsequently placed the Abbey under the curse that sucks the life-forces from generations of Hayworth heirs. There is also a secret order of privileged white men (think lords, members of parliament etc,) who have sought for decades to gain access to Blackwood Library to recover the manuscript and use the information therein to restore Britain as the most powerful empire on the globe.

I enjoyed this book, it's not a 4 or 5 stars for me as it's not on the level of a life-changing read or one that will stick with me for many months. But it's definitely worth reading if you are in the mood for something quick, a little bit surprising, and atmospheric.

Whew! The Last Heir to Blackwood Library was a hard book to put down.

Ivy is living a simple but full life in London when she finds out she's inherited an estate in the country called Blackwood. Her family is all dead - her brother and father in World War I and her mother to the Spanish Flu. She decides to take the inheritance, even if that means she has to leave London and move to the estate.

When she arrives at Blackwood, the staff seem unfriendly. They are hiding something, Ivy is sure of it. A chance encounter in a bookstore in a neighboring village puts Arthur Mabry into her life, and he tells her there is a wonderful library at Blackwood that no one showed her. The library is magnificent, but it also feels haunted and strange. She begins to spend time in the library, even though her staff disapproves and being in there gives her a headache.

Ivy feels the presence of two different spirits, one friendly and helpful, one malevolent, and she worries she's losing her mind as she starts to forget things. Arthur insinuates himself into her life, and her staff warns her he isn't what he seems. But who can she trust, Arthur, who is kind to her, or her staff, who have always been cold to her?

Ivy's memory problems make her an unreliable narrator, so you suffer along with her as she tries to figure out who has her best interests at heart, and what the library holds that everyone wants.

This is a great thriller and love story that you'll find hard to put down. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an egalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
3.5 stars

I raced to request an ARC after spying on a review by a fellow Goodreads friend and I wasn't disappointed. Hester Fox takes her readers to an English manor in the post-WWI era where a young heiress soon becomes haunted by a malevolent spirit.

Honestly, no one cranks up the gothic atmosphere with more intensity than Hester Fox. I felt as frightened and confused as the main protagonist, Ivy Radcliff!! The only thing that I criticize is that the romance in the book didn't work for me but I could see it was coming. Also, as we accelerated to the end, some plot points felt hurried.

Overall, I did read it in one sitting and was turning the pages BUT it wasn't my favorite book by the author.



Expected Publication Date 04/04/23
Goodreads Review Published 03/03/23


#TheLastHeirtoBlackwoodLibrary #NetGalley.

I love following an author throughout their writing metamorphosis. When I first started reading Hester Fox I liked but didn’t love her work. That all changed with A Lullaby for Witches and has continued with The Last Heir to Blackwood Library! I could not put this one down despite having to peel my eyes open to continue reading some nights. From start to finish I was absolutely enraptured and intrigued. It has all the biggies of a gothic style slow burn mystery: a decaying old manor, servants who are bound to the family, occult happenings, ghosts and a slow burn are they or aren’t they romance! A solid 4/5 for me. I highly recommend this one to all my gothic bookworms. A big thank you to Netgally for this advanced copy.

Release date: April 4, 2023
Publisher: Grayson House

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
Hester Fox
Pub Date April 4
Graydon House
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a solid piece of Gothic fiction. This book is set in England shortly after the end of WWI.
People are haunted by real life terrors they have lived through. I recommend this book to readers who like gothic.
3 stars

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before its publication date.

I am a sucker for books about books, whether it be fiction or nonfiction, so I was excited to read this one. The book centers around Ivy Radcliff, a young woman who finds herself the newest heir of Blackwood Abbey. The book follows her days of trying to discover the secrets of Blackwood Abbey, and her place there. I enjoyed discovering the secrets of the library and trying to figure out Ivy's next steps.

I never know what to think about Hester Fox. Her concepts are always so on point, but the execution feels ramshackle, which happens again here with The Last Heir of Blackwood Library. It's post-WWI England, and Ivy has lost her entire family to the war. When she discovers she's inherited an abbey in the middle of nowhere and has to live in it to have access to her new fortune, she jumps at the chance. But the servants are weird and unaccommodating. Ralph, the chauffeur, outright tells her to run for her life. The local pretty boy gets too interested in her too quickly. And then Ivy's memory starts to slip--why is she asking the same questions of the maid? Can't she remember the conversations she had before?

Then there's the matter of the library, which no one wanted her to find. It's all very mysterious! It has all the foundation blocks of a good gothic horror! I've seen some comparisons to Mexican Gothic here, and I can see that if you cross that book with something like The Last Apothecary.

The Last Heir of Blackwood Library is for the most part fine, but I really loathe when the MC keeps asking the side characters pertinent questions that she has every right to ask and the side characters refuse to tell her what's happening up until they literally can't anymore. There's also the situation of the romance, which never felt real since Ivy couldn't remember much of it, leaving its development feeling loose and confused. I wish there had been more connecting the mad monk to the cloistered nun the book starts with, but that felt a like backstory that got swept aside in favor of the bad guys doing nefarious things in the library.

Recommended for Sarah Penner fans.