3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. The Cruel Dark is a beautifully written gothic romance and the narrators did a wonderful job bringing this to the audiobook. I listened to it in one sitting! I enjoyed the twists and turns the mystery took and figured out a couple of them along the way which is always fun for me. I felt a little disconnected to the main characters and didn't feel their romance as much as I would have liked. Overall if you're a fan of the genre, I think you'll enjoy this one!

This is a new author that we all need to watch out for because they will rock the book world! This was such a vibe. Gothic, creepy, intricate detail of the world that was set, ghosts, hauntings, and an aloof professor living in a decrepit house in the middle of nowhere. Set in the 1920's, this was a perfect book to read for my Spooky/October TBR list.
"Strange things Bloom where grief lives."
Miss Foxboro took a job in Professor Hughes homes to help him get in order all his data he's accumulated over the years. The grim fairytales and research is something Millie has been drawn to for years. Right away to get an eery feeling in this dark and creepy house and the help that still live there...the world building and detail of everything was so spot on, it kept me enthralled to read. I was obsessed from chapter one. You'll want to know what's going on. Who's doing what. And I have to say, my guesses were SO wrong. Little spice. Incredible book. 1felt like it ended rather abruptly though and the romance aspect was very minuscule. I'd like to see an epilogue possibly into the future,

Thanks NetGalley, Bea Northwick and Victory Editing for the audiobook copy of this book- it was a pleasure.

The beginning of this novel started with a beautifully creepy and descriptive setting that gave me goosebumps. It helped that my daughter happened to be watching the live version of Beauty and the Beast as I completely pictured a mansion that was a cross between the Beast’s castle and Foxworyh Hall from VC Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic series. I was hoping to find ghosts and find out why the staff is curiously withdrawn.

Then the romance (ahem, spicy Romance) was mixed into the story. I don’t mind it as much as long as there are solid characters and there is still a storyline in there. I didn’t love that part of the book as much. But that’s personal preference- I’d rather see the story than the heat, so I’d drop that section of the review to a three.

I also enjoyed how the story did manage to end well. The mystery was explained and not just told to the reader but actually shown. It was a solid twist- not too surprising but again, told well and out gorgeous setting still stayed solid. That part of the book kept me intrigued and engaged- a solid five stars.

Overall, well-done.

The Cruel Dark was such a Gothic dark story, set in the 1920's amidst a large estate named Willowfield, a once spectacular home known for its beautiful gardens and large parties, but not anymore since the lady of the house's death. Millie who has spent two months in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia is offered a job at Willowfield to help Professor Callum Hughes at his estate. She couldn't resist the huge salary that could help set up in a new life so she accepts, but then weird things starts to occur at Willowfield.

I could guess the ending and plot twist coming and then I started doubting myself. The creepy gothic atmosphere was everything. The audio book narration was really well done, I love the author's choice to have it narrates as a duet. I'm glad I got the audio cause I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much as the audio

The eerie gothic vibes, ghosts and the pinch of spice made this perfect for me.

This was a well written and engaging book. The mystery storyline had me wondering what was going on in the old mansion, and the romance was well paced with palpable chemistry between the two main leads. The ending was somewhat predictable but still had me at the edge of my seat. The extremely detailed descriptions of the mansion setting and the female lead’s state of mind and surroundings felt a little too long on some occasions, which is the only thing I felt could be improved.

I really enjoyed The Cruel Dark.

Summary:

Millicent Foxboro doesn’t have the memory for several years of her life. Doctors at the ward said she had traumatic amnesia but she doesn’t remember what traumatic event took place. Millie after leaving the ward starts working with a doctor. His friend, Professor Callum Hughes needs an assistant to help in his library. Millie accepts the position. Callum is grieving the loss of his wife and has become a recluse. Williowfield, his estate, is said to be haunted.

Is it really haunted or is something else happening?


My thoughts:

I loved the narration of the audiobook. Madison Mitts and Theodore Zephry were the perfect voices for The Cruel Dark.

This to me appears to be a Gothic or Horror retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is also the first horror I’ve ever read. I wasn’t necessarily scared by the voices, people she was seeing, or sounds she was here; however, I spent the whole novel carefully following to see if I could figure out what was happening. Spoiler: I was completely wrong. I like it when I can’t figure things out because I see it as a well written story.

The Cruel Dark was really enjoyable and I’m glad I read it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bea Northwick for the ARC of “The Cruel Dark”!! I loved everything about this book!! From the beauty and the beast feel to the gothic overlay!! You’ll find mystery, slow burn romance, Spicceeee, tragic death and more in this book!! It is one I’d highly recommend to add to your TBR!!! The only thing is I’d prefer the ebook/physical to the audio only because I wasn’t in love with the chosen voice actors but that’s a personal preference!

A debut novel set in the 1920s with a haunted history, limited staff and overall creepy atmosphere. This book reminded me of Beauty and the Beast with some gothic vibes. I have nothing against the overall story, It was good and flowed well. However, there were some tropes in the story that I don't particularly like, but I know others do. My main issue was with the audiobook itself. The male narration was rather jarring when the book is told in only one POV. The voices themselves made me cringe and uncomfortable to the point I had to skip sections within the book. I will be giving this book another chance, but will be reading a physical/ ebook copy. The audiobook was not my favorite making it hard to enjoy the story as a whole.

Thank you to netgalley and Northwick for an advanced listening copy of this title for my honest review.

This one had some beauty and the beast vibes and I honestly really enjoyed it. The end got a little twisted though and almost a bit complicated. I found myself having to listen to it twice to make sure I picked it up right but besides that, this one was pretty great. I loved the premise and how it developed.

🌀Synopsis
Millicent is thrilled to have a job. After her complicated past and time in a mental institution, she’s thankful someone took the chance on her. Working with Callum is difficult at first but the two warm up to each other. Millicent is tormented by her dreams and the house and Callum continuously saves her from both. After progressing to a physical relationship, Callum proposes and Millicent agrees. It’s time to leave the house and it’s horrors behind. Before they can leave, one person is determined to get his just dues though and Millicent’s life is once again put in danger. Can Callum saver her this time?

Really good Paranormal Mystery Romance with an awesome twist!

Publisher's summary
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 who’d 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 Millie’s 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 professor’s fragile wife. What’s 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 Millie’s 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.

Thanks to NetGalley & Northwick Books for the ALC of this book!

The Cruel Dark
By: Bea Northwick
Narrated by: Madison Mitts, Theodore Zephyr
Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
Publisher: Northwick Books

The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick with Madison Mitts (Narrator), Theodore Zephyr (Narrator)

A dark mysterious historical romance with Gothic vibes that's an unexpected thriller with a twist that is as creepy as it is seductive.

When Millicent Foxboro is offered the perfect job as an assistant that pays very well, she can't say no. Her new employer Professor Callum Hughe is cold and distances himself from speaking to her only when needed. He lives in a grand eccentric mansion built by his grandfather that was heavily crafted with Celtic and nature references as his grandmother was from Ireland and as the only child in the family, it was left to him when his parents passed away not long after he married his wife. As they planned their life together his wife gradually fell ill, and she too passed away several years ago. Now the professor lives alone except for the two women who staff the vast mansion. They also only interact with Millie when needed, although the younger woman is friendlier yet timid. The groundskeeper is very friendly and handsome, however, Millie works in the Professor's library and when she arrives during the cold months in the setting of Boston Massachusetts, it doesn't allow them to interact as he stays in the grounds-keeper cottage away from the house on the property.

The home needs repair and Millie is told not to roam as many rooms are unsafe to enter for fear of getting hurt. There are many dark corners for things to hide, and she keeps seeing and hearing odd things within the home at night. Is the professor's deceased wife haunting the house? Millie also has sleepwalking issues when she is stressed which she has suffered from since she was young and frequent nightmares. She doesn't mention this to her new employer because she needs this job, and she doesn't want him to find out about her short stay in a psych ward, or that she forgets a few years of her life completely in fear of losing this well-paying job. The longer she stays there and gets the professor to open up and relax a bit as well as some of the staff, the strange things seem to increase in the home and they seem to be attracted to her.


This book starts a little slow as you learn about Millie and the history of this old family mansion, but it picks up with her interactions with the professor, the mansion staff, and the mansion itself. The ending was thrilling, and fast, and just when you think the story is going one way, it flips completely. I love it when a story has something unexpected happen and makes the build-up worth the wait. Although there was a slow build-up, I was still intrigued by the story and couldn't stop listening. The male narrator has a deep delicious voice that sounds lovely when listening to an audiobook.

✅Creepy Gothic
✅Haunted
✅Tragic death
✅Secrets
✅Slow Burn attraction
✅Spice
✅Thiller

I received an audiobook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now in physical, audio, and digital books.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to listen to CRUEL DARK by Bea Northwick. I haven’t read anything by Bea prior to this. I really enjoyed her writing, and the narrators were fantastic in this duet audiobook. I did wish the male character had longer scenes, as it was primarily voiced by the female character.

This is also my first historical romance. It is set in the 1920s. Mille has a haunted past and gets offered a job at Willowfield with Professor Callum Hughes. She couldn’t deny it because of the salary he offered. It would set her up for a couple of years once she finished the research, except there is more to know about Callum and Willowfield.

This would be a perfect fall spooky read. It had just the right amount of ghosts and secrets throughout. I was not expecting the ending. I did feel that the book went a little fast at the ending - all in all I enjoyed this one!

Tropes:
🐦‍⬛ Historical Romance
🐦‍⬛ Gothic Romance
🐦‍⬛ Mystery
🐦‍⬛ Grieving MMC
🐦‍⬛ FMC Trauma
🐦‍⬛ Mental Health Rep

"The Cruel Dark" is an enthralling tale set in the 1920s at Willowfield, a grand estate once renowned for its sprawling gardens and lavish parties, now fallen into disrepair after the lady of the house's passing. Millie, who once spent two months in a mental ward due to traumatic amnesia, is offered a job at Willowfield to assist Professor Callum Hughes. Unable to resist the substantial salary that promises a fresh start, she accepts the position. Initially taken aback by Hughes' rude demeanor, Millie gradually finds herself drawn in by his undeniable allure.

The book was giving me scary vibes and some chapters really creeped me out. The pace was great and not to fast or slow. I did guess some of the plot twist, but not all of it. The ending was great and I did not expect it at all, The chemistry of the MCs was great and the spice was also nice.

OVerall I really enjoyed this book.

Millie has taken a job at the Willowfield estate with Professor Callum Hughes to help him with his research. The estate isn’t what she expected, falling apart and said to be haunted. When strange things start happening, she begins to question what happened, while also becoming more enthralled with Callum.

There were pieces of the story that felt familiar to other gothic tales, and some of the twists were predictable.

As far as the audiobook goes, the female narrator was fine, but the male voices were way overdone and kinda creepy sounding.

Overall, the story was good, but I may have taken it in differently if I’d read it instead of listening to the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced copy of this audiobook

I gave this one a 3.75, I DID enjoy this - it reminded me a lot of Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier) just with some light smut. The ending was sort of unexpected but you could also see it coming at the same time, I'd probably read more books by this author :) I didn't really like the narrator and it was a bit jarring when the male narrator randomly came in without warning but I also liked that there was a man narrating the mans parts so idk! :)

A truly astonishing debut.
This tale is a perfectly balanced blend of dark intrigue, lusty romance and downright chilling horror. Millie is the perfect protagonist through which to view this twisty tale. Far from a Flapper and desperate to escape her imposed dowdiness, her personality is at once headstrong and contrite. She remains engaging and sympathetic throughout; her observations keeping us rooted in the opulent 1920s setting.
A note about the audiobook: Brilliantly produced and performed, this was an excellent way to consume the story. I liked the decision to have the male characters voiced by a different narrator to set them apart from Millie’s perspective. It made the experience all the more immersive and emphasised the realism of the dialogue.
The most successful element of this book for me is the thrilling, twisting and unpredictable journey Millie goes on. Alongside the stunning descriptions of both a lavish manor and the horrors that lurk inside, there lies a plot so devilishly serpentine that it would rival a golden age crime novel. Armed with more questions than answers, the reader is confronted with a twist ending that would surely have Agatha Christie herself slow clapping in awe (after maybe balking at the more salacious scenes).
This book is beautifully wrapped up and left me feeling slightly bereft when I finished it. There is a cinematic element to this story and, paired with it’s urgency and tension throughout, it left me having to really sit with the story afterwards.
For fans of Rebecca, please give this book a read. It’s an obvious comparison but a worthy one. They’re so different in so many ways but both left me feeling similarly awestruck.

Thank you ever so much to Netgalley and to Bea, I can’t wait to read what you write next.

This is a solid 3 star book. It's fresh enough to not be too predictive, but formulaic enough to be enjoied by the romance lovers. I liked the world that was painted and the settings of the book, it gave a noir sort of feeling that I really appreciate.
I wished the cast of characters were developed a bit more, as the secondary characters were super interesting and delving into their minds would have been fun.
Overall an enjoable read.

First, what a beautiful cover-totally drew me in with the cover alone. I was left wanting for just a bit more after finishing this though…Dark, gothic, romantic mystery vibes were there, but fell short of a cohesive and catching story. I listened to this on audio, I thought the female narrator did a great job as the boom is told in the main female character’s (Millie) point-of-view. The interjections of the male narrator was a bit jarring, and I didn’t like his voice as much (personal preference…)

The Cruel Dark is a gothic mystery with an eerie, dark atmosphere that will have you invested from start to finish. The writing is creepily captivating, and the story itself was well thought of, constructed, and delivered.
After spending some time in a mental ward after suffering a terrible accident resulting in amnesia, Millie finds herself in search of employment. She is hired by a professor and becomes his live-in assistant. During her stay at the Willowfield estate, Millie starts hearing cries and seeing ghosts. She also starts to feel less and less like herself, and eventually, she knows something is wrong. What is going on at this estate?
I really enjoyed this novel - it has such a great gothic feel and the mystery of it kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with every paranormal event. The romance between Millie and Callum was a slow build and wasn't overwhelming at any point, which I appreciated. I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately, I found it difficult to like the female narrator. It's dual narration, and although I enjoyed the male, the female just made me cringe most of the time. I understand her narration was meant to deliver eerie and haunted, but it felt like she moaned her way through the entire read. Aside from that, I'd highly recommend this novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Bea Northwick for this captivating ARC!

I recieved an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I powered through this audiobook in one day. It was pretty fast paced, and there was definitely no "saggy middle". It felt like every scene was necessary for the plot, setting the scene or character development. Parts that I questioned why they were in as I was initially listening became clear after the big reveal. I bet if I was to re-listen or re-read this book, it'd be like a different book. Maybe not to the extent of reading A Court of Thorns and Roses after Reading A Court of Mist and Fury level of feeling like a different book, but more enjoyable nonetheless.

I did successfully predict one of the big reveals, but that had some obvious foreshadowing. I did not see the other big reveal coming, but in hindsight that one was foreshadowed but more sneakily on the part of the author. So I tip my hat to the author. It takes a lot to surprise me.