Memories, Mysteries and Murder?

I will be transparent and say that I did almost dnf this book at around 30%. But then I had seen a review from a mutual who said that the beginning kind of dragged but that once you got past 30% it picked up and that they thought it was worth it, so I picked it back up! And they were right, the plot picks up from there and then it is a whirlwind of mysteries and scary ladies roaming the halls at night.

I thought the characters where entertaining and had a believable chemistry, I even enjoyed the secondary characters but I feel like they weren’t really fleshed out and we don’t get a good idea of who they are and why they’re there.

There was a pretty surprising twist towards the end and while I was shocked by it I think that was mostly because there was practically no information that would have made me suspect that was coming. It just felt like it was out of no where, I am all for the misleading narrative but I think there could have been some more details throughout the book that make the end make sense and give it some realistic motive.

I did enjoy the book after I got past the 30% mark and I was able to finish the book in only a couple hours. The spice was 🌶️🌶️ to 🌶️🌶️🌶️ on the spice scale but that’s not really my thing so it didn’t bring the rating up much in my personal opinion. I give 3 ⭐️’s!

Thank you to the Author Bea Northwick, and the Narrators Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr for sharing their work with us!

Big thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for my free audiobook copy of “The Cruel Dark”.

I received this advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked many of the ideas in The Cruel Dark but the execution was extremely lackluster. The plot was very formulaic. Every step was predictable. That isn't necessarily a bad thing since random twists with no build up are a sign of poor writing. But the plot also shouldn't be stale.

Looking at the overall rating, I'm obviously in the minority. So this novel works for many others. So if you're looking for a spicy, Gothic romance set in the 1920s, this book is worth giving a try.

Thanks NetGalley, Bea Northwick and Victory Editing for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Haunting, disturbing and extremely chilling with a smidgen of hope and destiny. I really got into this book as it over took my mind with the twists and turns along the way. Heroic performances and wistful heart rendering sentiments make for a story worthy of telling!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this audiobook ARC.
3.5 stars rounded down.

I liked this book a lot more than I expected. I have only read a couple of 'gothic' romances, one of which I completely forgot was gothic and the other I struggled with (I sort of want to listen to the audiobook to see if I enjoy it more a second time). There's also a chance I just liked this so much because the narrator did a really good job, and even if I wasn't absolutely taken by the secondary narrator, it was cool they had one for the female characters and one for the male characters.

Even if I could foresee the twist with Milli, it was still nice to see played out. I did find the end reveal a bit blah, not because it's bad, but because I really wanted it to go in another direction. More of a paranormal approach probably just appeals to me because I like fantasy stuff xD Either way, the book did a great job misdirecting you to think it'd go that way, to the point that I was extremely offset by one of the men when I didn't have to be.

Overall, a fun gothic read that I recommend, even if it not going in the direction I wanted did make it less enjoyable overall to me personally.

The audiobook "A Cruel Dark" was truly captivating. The narrator skillfully brought the characters to life, allowing listeners to deeply feel their emotions and immerse themselves in the intricate world of dark romance and mystery. The storyline was compelling and easy to follow, weaving together complex characters and a gripping plot.

3.75⭐️

1928, Boston: Twenty-six-year-old Millicent Foxboro quits her job at a bookshop in Boston to accept a position to assist widowed Professor Callum Hughes in his research, a position that would require her to move to his estate in Willowfield. Millicent lives with a big gap in her memories. She remembers her traumatic childhood and the tragic episode that destroyed her own family but is unable to recall the events of the years preceding her being admitted to the hospital. With this new assignment, she hopes to earn enough money to turn her life around. But after a somewhat cold reception and the strange behavior of the staff, Millicent begins to suspect that Willowfield and her new employer harbor deep secrets, the eerie occurrences and the journal of her employer’s late wife only adding to her fear and unease. Is the estate haunted or is she being targeted? Who would want to harm her and why?

Though the premise or the major plot points won’t strike you as anything you haven’t read before, as a whole I did find The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick to be an engaging read. The intriguing premise, the atmospheric setting, well-developed characters and the Gothic elements paired with a few surprising revelations (among the more predictable ones) kept me interested in the plot as it progressed. I loved the sections on Celtic mythology and appreciated how the same was incorporated into the narrative. The ending was exciting and overall satisfying, though I was left with a few questions. Overall, this was a well-written, absorbing novel. Fans of Gothic romance (with a healthy dose of spice) and mystery would definitely enjoy this one.

This is definitely a promising debut and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr, which made for an engaging immersion reading experience.

Many thanks to Northwick Books for the digital review copy Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The novel was published on Oct 31, 2023 and the audiobook was released on Apr 22, 2024

This was a pretty good debut, and the ending packed a lot in.

I found Millie a sympathetic character from the start, and Madison Mitts narrated her beautifully. I much preferred her narration over the male narrator.

The story was fleshed out and complex, but I felt the middle was very lacklustre in regards to plot. I wasn't a fan of the romance, so I skipped most of the intimate scenes - I don't think the male narrator helped, to be honest. It came across very creepy and almost predatory, but it got better.

The way the beginning knitted with the end was truly excellent. That's what saved it for me because up until that point, I was a bit bored.

The imagery and writing were quite evocative and kept me engaged despite the slow middle part.

Overall, it wasn't the best book in this genre I've read, but it was pretty good, especially for a debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bea Northwick for the ALC and ARC.

This murder mystery gave me the chills and kept me on my toes with all the suspense! I did enjoy the audio version better but the narrator for Callum was a huge no as he made Callum seem like such an old man compared to Millie and so that kinda made things off when it came to their chemistry.

3.5/5

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Victory Editing for the ARC. This was a great audio. I loved the narrators, especially for Professor Hughes.
This story was filled with ghost and mystery but it was the ending that made me gasp. A must read.

WOAH!! Stop right here and listen to me. This book was absolutely amazing!! The narrator was **CHEFS KISS** phenomenal.

Set in the 1920s, Millie is hired to work in a gothic manor house as an assistant to Callum, a professor of mythology.

Firstly the build up is intoxicatingly gripping. The storytelling was so expertly done that you could feel the creeping of the floorboards! I ignored my adult jobs to just sit and listen to this hostorical gothic thriller.

Millie has issues with her mental health. She has a tendancy to sleepwalk. An affliction that Callums dead wife also suffered with. There is something in the house that is trying to tell Millie something but she just doesn't know what and who she can trust. The closer she works with Callum, the more attracted to him she becomes but what really happened to his wife???

Its all well done. All the characters have that unreliable vibe to them. Everyone is keeping secrets and it was such a wild ride!

Loved the ending! It tied everything up well enough!

Excellent read 4.5 stars!!

The Cruel Dark has a lot going for it: fairy tale retelling, historical fiction, really spooky horror, a thrilling twist at the end, and the smuttiest smut to have ever smut!  Despite the book holding so many different genres, I would say every single one was incorporated really well.  This book constantly had me guessing which direction it was going to go next and once we got to the ending I found myself rethinking everything!  Why dock a star then?  I am not sure if 200 pages constitutes something as a short story but this felt too short to me.  The ending happened so quickly, with Millie running away so fast we barely process the final clues she uncovers.

I listened to the audiobook and while I loved the duet narration (same style as Butcher and Blackbird and Thank You For Listening), I could not handle the way the women narrator sex talked every single line.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting this to be a smut book based on the Goodreads description and genre tags so I was really thrown off.  The sexy times don't even start until a good chunk of the book, leaving Millie to breathlessly moan about her past trauma, new life in the castle, strange co-workers, and nightmare visions for the majority of the audio.  If the story itself wasn't so captivating, I'd have DNF'ed on the narrator's voice alone.

The was a perfect blend of romance, suspense and fantasy for me! The dark gothic, creepy and sinister vibes were intoxicating. Set in a progressive 1920s and in an old deteriorated mansion, Willowfield was perfection. This story definitely gave me a dark, beauty and the beast vibes and I could not eat it up fast enough! The fairytale/mythological history elements added to make this one of my favorite books of the year.

Millie, a young woman with a tragic history, is doing whatever she can to make herself a path in the world. After a stay in the insane asylum, she has thrown herself into work as an apprentice to a historian. When a temporary job opportunity comes up in another city, Millie jumps on the chance to start over in a new place where no one knows her as "mad Millie". As the apprentice to a Professor of Mythology, Mille will gain the money and experience needed to move on with her life.

Callum lost his wife a few years ago to madness. Since that time, he has allowed his beautiful mansion to fall into disrepair and the ghost stories for his property to flourish. His best friend decides bringing in an assistant will help be the first step in bringing Callum back to society.

Between the immediate visions Millie has, the sleep walking adventures, the sexual tension and the flashes of their backgrounds, this book was SUSPENSE all the way through! I loved the world building and was entranced by the eerie beauty of Willowfield. The plot twists and mysteries kept me glued to the page through the end. I can not wait to read more work from this author!

It's been a long time since I've read a gothic romance, but The Cruel Dark reminded me why I love them. The way Northwick weaves Gaelic mythology into the story is beautifully done and keeps the line between reality and fantasy intentionally fuzzy. I could feel the terror and trepidation in the writing and in the amazing narration from Madison Mitts. Theodore Zephyr did wonderfully with all the male characters and I immediately read Lover after I finished this book to ensure I had the full story. The ending felt a tiny bit rushed for me, but having the sequel/companion novella scratched every remaining itch I had. Wonderfully done, highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy.

Gothic romance is a whole vibe I am loving at the moment. So when I saw the audiobook on netgalley I decided to give it a go and I'm so glad I did.
The Cruel Dark had a haunted house, ghosts, mystery, romance, with gothic and historical elements.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, narrated by Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephyr, they really brought the characters to life, with their own personalities and emotions.
I was hooked on the story from the very first listen, it was a quick read. I really enjoyed the characters of Millie and Callum, they had chemistry and banter.
The story is full twists and turns and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what would happen next.
I loved this story and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

3.5 STARS. A beautifully written gothic romance. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book and the vibes were excellent. However, I did struggle to connect with the main love interest which made it less enjoyable for me.

4/5 - I think I would have made it 4.5 if poor Callum didn't sound like he was 60.

Thoughts
The Cruel Dark is a beautiful and haunting story. Our FMC deals with a troubled background, amnesia and wanting to find her place in life.

Willowfield was once a magnificent home, fallen into disrepair and neglect haunted by it’s own past. It’s owner Professor Callum Hughes hires our FMC Millie as an assistant in his research of mythology and folklore.

Love is madness, life is madness and everything in between is just a little bit of insanity - or is it?

Negative
I loved this book. My only negativity would be the voice for the Professor - it didn’t quite fit. He felt about 60. Although I do like the Voice Actors other work so feel it just wasn’t best fit.

Fits/Tropes
Gothic Romance, horror, mystery & historical.
Professor/Boss, dislike to lovers, who cares who sees us, sneaking around, quiet but passionate FMC.

This adult audiobook gave me a feeling that something wasn’t quite right straight from the start. Just what I enjoy. With a title of Cruel Dark that’s exactly as it should be. The narration is interesting. Mostly a female narrator, with a slight American twang. Perfect for the setting. But there is also a male narrator for conversations she has with male characters. Brilliant idea; his voice is deep and sonorous. Again Perfect. The ending had a twist I didn’t see coming. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

3.5 stars rounded up. The spooky, gothic, and romantic vibes really worked for me here. The story was a tiny bit predictable, but I still enjoyed it. The audio narrating made it extra fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book surprised me in a way I can’t describe. The way it was narrated was amazing and it truly had me on the edge of my seat from time to time, however I was confused at bits but it tied itself together in a neat little bow. It was written in one perspective, Millie, but I really did like how for all the male characters they had the male narrator come in so it wasn’t just female narration. Duet narration is my favourite and I loved how the actors were able to put on different accents for different characters. The story itself was very engaging, even though I found myself confused. I wasn’t expecting the plot twist in the end. It definitely carried out the one narrative up until the plot twist and you weren’t even guessing what that was. I loved our two main characters, Callum and Millie, I loved how deep the story, The characters were developed and they had heart and soul. You could feel the pain of the people in this book. And I think the main reason why I was confused is because you’re going through Millie‘s perspective and she is trying to tie bits and pieces of her story together. It does focus on the amnesia aspect that Millie has and you really don’t know how Millie has amnesia until the end, so I guess you could say that was really well done that you weren’t guessing okay she’s not remembering things though she’s only seeing things just because she was. One thing I also really liked was the Irish folklore and Irish myths that were in this story how the characters held such a deep connection with it. One thing is, I do have a few questions, more so as I was reading, it wasn’t all in and out (if you get me). The language was a bit hard to understand at some points, but it was consistent so I do like that. More so my taste isn’t truly Gothic romance but I did like this and I liked the dark aspects of it. So yeah, good book, not great though.

DNFing at 56% because nothing has happened. If you’re here for the vibes, this one is for you. It’s dark, atmospheric, mysterious, & gives a dark Beauty and the Beast vibes (I have no clue if that’s where the story actually goes).

There is a mystery about why the professor won’t let anyone roam the house after dark & what happened to his late wife. I’m just not interested enough to stick with it and find out.

The narrators are wonderful at setting the vibe of the story. The audiobook is 8 hours in length.

This would be great for a dark/winter read if you’re a seasonal mood reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bea Northwick for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.