Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

DNF @ 28%

I'm kinda disappointed because I really wanted to like this.

Right off the bat, the first chapter is full of world-building exposition explaining how the gentlewitches and the various hierarchies work. I understand that it's necessary for the reader to know these things in order to understand the stakes, but the way it was executed (characters having awkward conversations explaining things that they should already know) was not it. I expected the infodumping to stop after that first chapter, but the following chapters contain additional world-building exposition that is tiresome to read, and also rather complicated? I would have preferred not having all that exposition, because I didn't understand it very well either way. Maybe this is a skill issue, or the way that it was written, but I just found it so tedious.

The writing style is very last time-y, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it makes the character dialogue come off as rather stiff and unnatural, as well as making the characters feel kind of,,, cold? And impersonal. I suppose the writer is trying to deliberately emulate Jane Austen's writing, given the setting, but it just doesn't flow well.

The main issue I have with this book is the use of PoVs. The synopsis mentions Poppy and Edith as the main characters, but for some reason, Edith's uncle, Auden, who is not mentioned AT ALL in the synopsis has like, more PoVs than Edith? And about the same number of PoVs as Poppy, but also he has more page time than both of them? And there's nothing wrong with this character, Auden seems rather nice, but this book is pitched as a romance between Edith and Poppy, but instead of reading about them, I am reading about this guy. I did get some interactions between Edith and Poppy, but their interactions are so so uninteresting and frustrating. I know this book is a Pride and Prejudice, enemies-to-lovers sort of thing, so there won't be romance from the start, but their initial animosity isn't even exciting or thrilling to read, it's like they just hate each other for no reason. Edith especially is very hard to understand, because this book spends more time inside her uncle's head than hers!!

Anyway, maybe the romance gets better later on, but I won't be continuing further because I do not care about these characters.

I think the direct comparison to Pride and Prejudice actually does the story a disservice. Or at least required a very different setup and series of events - beyond a couple initial beats, the story quite quickly veers off from P&P into something entirely its own and it would have stood quite well on its own with just "Regency Witches" or something similar that didn't have such well-known expectations.

I also found it trying to do too much all of the time - PoVs jumped multiple times within the same chapter with very little indication; for the first few chapters, we got Auden's perspective overwhemlingly more than Edith's, which felt a little jarring; there's witches, vampires, werewolves, fae, the quick introduction of all felt like biting off more than the reader could chew. While all of the various storylines - the mystery of the fire, Poppy's affinity for Netherford Hall, Poppy's father's curse, the American relatives, Edith's magic, the vampires, Edith's marriage - do all come together by the end, some of them feel so perfunctory that I can't help but think how much stronger any of them would have been if there had only been one or two at a time. The romance kind of gets similar treatment, an undercurrent in everything going on, but because there's so much that needs to be resolved, we don't get to spend as much time with Poppy and Edith and I'd like. Because when they're together, it's so nice

I love a cozy queer book and that's what this felt like. Throw in witches and the Regency era and I was very intrigued.
There is a great simplicity to it, yet it's still well written and the descriptions (rooms and dresses etc.) provided great atmosphere.

I always appreciate a book where the diversity just is. It's not novel, problematic, etc. It's just the way things are and it's beautiful.

I will definitely continue with this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Rebellion Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

Netherford Hall has writing and magic reminiscent to me of the Narnia series - there's time taken to establish the society, to explain the rules of the magic, all while written with this whimsical charm and dialogue that is often missing in a romantic fantasy.

Although the story is based has elements of Pride and Prejudice and Little Women, there are certainly enough differences in the storytelling and its beats to keep the book interesting; this is also a book that is not only has queer main characters, but eschews heteronormativity entirely - it is a given that the gentlewitch is the matriarch, and it is given that she will take a wife. All of this is written as if this is plain and obvious, which I so appreciate - no need for tumbling over oneself to explain the queer representation or make any side comments on it.

Like many fantasy books, and truer-to-classics historical fiction, this book is one that you have to take the time to read and commit to, especially with learning all the magic terms and the familial structure. But give it the chance, and it'll be loads of fun! I'm excited to see where the series goes!

LGBTQ+ Pride and Prejudice with witches, vampires and other mythical creatures.....this took a big bite out of the historical fantasy genre that was bit too much to swallow.

This was a beautiful, funny and clever regency romance with a supernatural twist, set in a non-heteronormative world… so yes, basically everything I look for in a book! It’s billed as “Pride and prejudice and witches” and while I see the parallels to the famous Austen novel, I do not think they’re obvious enough to compare, and this novel is sufficiently strong to stand on its own. I had no problem with the insta-love aspect, and expect the world building and magic system will be further developed as the series goes on. I found it incredible entertaining and finished it in just under two days. I would highly recommend it and look forward to the sequel!

This was described as Pride and Prejudice and Witches, and it so is!! I loved the historical and atmospheric vibes in this. There was LGBT representation, romance, fantasy, and a throwback to a classic. Recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so pleasant! It was the perfect blend of cozy meets Pride and Prejudice meets witches.
I absolutely ADORED the writing in this and I loved the Pride and Prejudice references throughout.
The characters and places are lovable, and I enjoyed seeing the development (romantic and non-romantic) between many of the characters!

The magic in this world is very soft magic and is subtly used throughout. I would love to know much more concretely about how the magic works in this world in future books if possible, but if the magic stays soft then I have no complaints either!

The descriptions of the places, appearances, and the dresses were GORGEOUS.

I will definitely be reading more from this author just from their writing style alone, I cannot describe how much I enjoyed it from the very first sentence - I highlighted A LOT of passages and sentences from this book! It was a really stronge part of this novel! And I will definitely be interested in seeing what happens in the next installment of this series. Also, the cover is GORGEOUS!

I do think the mysteries, reveals and foreshadowing were the weakest parts of the book. I feel they weren't at the forefront at all; it was easy to forget there were even mysteries to solve if I'm being honest. I was very happy to just read about these characters' day to day life, the setting and the relationships.

Adult Content Warning for sex scenes.

I enjoyed the relationship between Poppy and Edith, but I felt that the magical elements were somewhat unclear and occasionally left me confused about what was happening. However, the romantic part got me blushing, giggling and kicking my feet!

Hacía ya mucho tiempo que Antonio y yo no compartíamos lecturas, pero cuando al fin conseguimos cuadrar nuestras agendas hubo un título que no creíamos que pudiera fallar, me refiero a Netherford Hall.

Es una novela que incluye varios de nuestros placeres culpables: Inglaterra de la regencia, brujas, algo de romance y muchos bailes y encuentros sociales.

El libro se puede enmarcar perfectamente en la corriente más en boga últimamente en el género, el famoso romantasy. No obstante, no es el único punto destacado de la lectura.

Se cobijan entre los humanos varios tipos criaturas sobrenaturales como vampiros, hombres lobo, brujas y algunos más. Se nos indica que hubo hadas pero que la frontera con su mundo se cerró tiempo atrás. No obstante perduran los resultados del pacto feérico con los humanos, que dotó de magia a ciertas familias.

Los personajes protagonistas son dos mujeres, la gentlewitch Edith que habrá de mudarse al campo tras una tragedia en su familia y Poppy, la hija de la familia que vive en una de sus propiedades. Quizá esto os suene un poco a guion de Peli de Tarde, salvo que la acción transcurre en Kent en lugar de Vermont. Aunque no negaremos que hay cierta semejanza, las circunstancias personales de cada una no invitan a la esperanza en su relación.

No por su género, ya que las relaciones no heteronormativas están normalizadas en este pasado alternativo, sino por el carácter de cada una, sus diferentes posiciones sociales y una actitud casi hostil con la que comienzan su relación. Además, una serie de amenazas, veladas o no, penden sobre ellas. Y no será tarea fácil desvelar el origen de sus problemas ni mucho menos solucionarlo entre baile y baile. Escoger vestimenta para cada ocasión nunca fue tan estresante.

El estilo de Natania Barron es sencillo pero efectivo. Aunque es una novela que transcurre sin una particular urgencia ni cuenta con acción desenfrenada no se hace larga en absoluto. El ritmo se mantiene lo suficiente para que se lea con facilidad. Tiene algún pasaje más onírico o reflexivo pero no tedioso. Quizá se habría beneficiado de un léxico un poco más florido y un mejor manejo del lenguaje de la época, porque lo que es el ambiente sí está bastante conseguido.

Además, el tramo final de la obra, aunque quizá no excesivamente sorprendente, consigue arrastrar al lector en la corriente de los hechos, consiguiendo atraparlo en una espiral de revelaciones y momentos álgidos.

El misterio principal se resuelve satisfactoriamente pero se abren varias vías por las que claramente transcurrirán las siguientes entregas de la saga. Posiblemente con otros protagonistas pero con personajes que volverán sin lugar a dudas.

En resumen, nos encontramos ante un libro que no revolucionará el género, pero de lectura extremadamente satisfactoria. Los detalles como la completa normalidad con la que se acepta cualquier orientación sexual modernizan una trama entretenida y resultona,

Si te gustó Sorcerer to the Crown de Zen Cho o The Midnight Bargai

Netherford Hall blends Regency charm with supernatural elements in an ambitious narrative. Set in a world where witches and vampires coexist, the novel follows Poppy, a free-spirited young woman from a struggling gentry family, who loses her refuge in the abandoned Netherford Hall when new occupants arrive. Edith, the head of a witch coven reeling from a tragic loss, moves into the hall and faces challenges from distant American relatives claiming ownership.

At the heart of the novel lies the blossoming romance between Poppy and Edith, their tender moments striking a resonant chord within the narrative. However, while their relationship captivates, the pace at which it unfolds feels hurried, leaving readers yearning for more nuanced development.

The multifaceted nature of Netherford Hall proves to be both its strength and its stumbling block. Through its intricate web of plotlines and frequent shifts in perspective, the narrative occasionally struggles to maintain a cohesive flow.

Netherford Hall is a creative blend of Regency romance and fantasy with promising elements. Its ambitious scope may benefit from more focused storytelling in future installments. It's an intriguing read for fans of historical fantasy, even if its execution leaves room for refinement.

Thank you to Natania Barron, Rebellion Publishing Ltd, & Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Pride and Prejudice and Witches.

After a mysterious fire at their home in Regency London displaces Gentlewitch Edith Rookwood and her now much-reduced family to their ancestral seat of Netherford Hall in Kent, she faces a new threat in the form of her tenant-the chaotic and lovely Poppy Brightwell.

The repairs on the old pile are prohibitive, Edith's standing is uncertain, and her inheritance has been challenged by a forgotten American branch of the family. It is clear she needs to marry, soon and wisely-but the lively girl from Harrow House gradually comes to occupy all of her thoughts.

As tenants, rivals, suitors and enemies start to circle Netherford, and dark secrets about both women's pasts come to light, Edith and Poppy must confront what it means to fight for love and family, and to be their authentic selves."

Regency Magic Bitches! Or should I say Witches?

So much happens in this book that it's hard to summarize it. Perhaps it was too ambitious to include all of the different storylines in this first book? Focusing on Poppy and Edith's relationship and perhaps the magical aspect of Netherford Hall might have then set up the story of Poppy's "illness" and the American relatives for a second book. This would also push the introduction of the vampires to a second or third book. Their presence was a little confusing in this story.

Netherford Hall was not what I expected but had a lot of promise. I like witchy books so was inclined to like the general gist of the story but there are definite areas for improvement to make the second book more successful.

There were a lot of promising ideas, details, and plot points but there was just too much packed into one relatively short book. I think there were too many characters and back stories thrown at the reader which resulted in a lot of telling instead of showing. The side plots we not unwelcome but added to the general chaos trying to follow the plot. Additionally, the POV changing multiple times within each chapter made the story feel choppy with abrupt transitions. The characters were suddenly crying, weeping, and sobbing for little reason and the romance developments were equally unexpected and startling. I was often confused and I'm not sure I really understand the ending.

I think branding this story (especially on the cover itself) as a Pride and Prejudice and Witches might do this book a disservice. It's certainly apparent who the Elizabeth, Jane, and Darcy equivalents are in Netherford Hall, but the dynamics and motivations are not analogous. Readers looking for a P&P story might be disappointed which seems unnecessary when there is definitely a different audience for this book. I would call this a Regency historical fantasy with better comparisons to Olivia Atwater's Half A Soul series or Howl's Moving Castle.

Now that I know the lay of the land, I would be interested in the subsequent books and would hope the sequel won't have to work so hard to explain the setting and context.

Thank you Solaris Books for the arc!

thanks to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my copy of netherford hall.
i'm giving it 3.5⭐ rounded up. i liked its premise and i'm always up for a witchy romance. but! while i do enjoy most historical sapphic novels, i didn't connect to any of the characters and i was confused with the plot and the whole magic system half the time...

Captivating witch-filled sapphic regency joy!
I LOVED this book. Honestly, I don't read much regency/historical fiction but this LGBTQ+ and sapphic romantasy is a supernatural delight. Witches, vampires and a hint of werewolves take the stage but ultimately this is a whimsical yet fast-paced story pulling on themes of loss, transformation, belonging, exploration, nature and discovering your true identity...If that sounds like your cup of tea, expect to also find an enemies to friends to lovers saga and queer neurodivergent main characters, both of whom I adored, but it's Edith who captured my whole heart! If you just binged the new season of Bridgerton this book will surely help fill the void. Fans of Natasha Pulley rejoice because this series is one you will be happy to get your teeth into. Easily five stars from me - when's part 2 again??
Thank you Solaris Nova for providing this ARC for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book had such an interesting premise but didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The romance was really cute and I enjoyed the back and forth of that but most of the time I was confused about what was happening. The world building/ magic system was slightly off to me, the book at the same time was too fast but also too slow? I just didn’t fully grasp what was going on most of the time. That being said it hooked me enough that I would continue on with the series.

Regency era sapphic romance meets fantasy level vampires, witches, and magic. This was a good time and an easy read. Definitely giving Pride and Prejudice but with more varied plot lines. At times it felt like a lot to follow, but as the book hit somewhere around the 60% mark, things start to feel more cohesive and really came into its own. I think this book truly has a little bit for everyone but would be most enjoyed by lovers of cozy fantasy, regency, and/or queer fiction.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in August. Yessssss! So good, so beautifully gay. Although the magical world building wasnt completely well worked out I loved it nonetheless. I felt all the feels. And yes since it's a historical romance a little bit, it also has a carriage scene but sapphic.