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The Needfire
You are afraid of the border places. You are afraid of the fork in the road.
Fleeing her mistakes in Glasgow for a marriage of convenience, Norah Mackenzie’s new home on an estate far in the north of Scotland is a chance for freedom, a fresh start. But in the dim, draughty corridors of Corrain House, something is very wrong. Despite their warm correspondence, her distant, melancholic husband does not seem to know her. She is plagued by ghost ships on the sea, spectres at the corner of her eye, by winding, grasping roots. Her only possible companion, the housekeeper Agnes Gunn, is by turns unnerving and alluring, and harbours uncanny secrets of her own.
As the foundations crumble beneath her feet, Norah must uncover the truth about Corrain House, her husband, Agnes, and herself, if she is to find the freedom she has been chasing.
Fleeing her mistakes in Glasgow for a marriage of convenience, Norah Mackenzie’s new home on an estate far in the north of Scotland is a chance for freedom, a fresh start. But in the dim, draughty corridors of Corrain House, something is very wrong. Despite their warm correspondence, her distant, melancholic husband does not seem to know her. She is plagued by ghost ships on the sea, spectres at the corner of her eye, by winding, grasping roots. Her only possible companion, the housekeeper Agnes Gunn, is by turns unnerving and alluring, and harbours uncanny secrets of her own.
As the foundations crumble beneath her feet, Norah must uncover the truth about Corrain House, her husband, Agnes, and herself, if she is to find the freedom she has been chasing.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2025
About the author
M.K. Hardy
8 books31 followersMK Hardy is the pen name for two geeky women living and writing together in Scotland.
Their debut Sapphic Gothic Horror, The Needfire, is out now from Solaris Books!
Their debut Sapphic Gothic Horror, The Needfire, is out now from Solaris Books!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 21, 2025
The Needfire by M. K. Hardy
July 31st | 380 pages
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
-A slow burn
-Gothic atmosphere, mood, and setting
-Sapphic longing and desire
-Secrets, lies, and mysteries
-Historical fiction
-Stories set in Scotland
A debut, sapphic, gothic tale written by M. K. Hardy which is a pen name for two women living and writing together in Scotland. One thing I love the most about gothic fiction is the underlying theme of people being trapped in a terrible situation they can’t escape. In the Needfire, it’s the late 1800s and Norah has married Lord Barland, owner of the estate, Corrain House. She is making her very first journey out to her new home to meet the man she’s supposed to be with for the rest for life, for the first time. Of course, once she gets there, the man is not what she expected, the house staff behaves strangely toward her, and the villagers seem a little spooked. It takes some time for this story to find its pacing but once it gets going, there is a lot here to love. A strong debut and I’m eager for more.
July 31st | 380 pages
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
-A slow burn
-Gothic atmosphere, mood, and setting
-Sapphic longing and desire
-Secrets, lies, and mysteries
-Historical fiction
-Stories set in Scotland
A debut, sapphic, gothic tale written by M. K. Hardy which is a pen name for two women living and writing together in Scotland. One thing I love the most about gothic fiction is the underlying theme of people being trapped in a terrible situation they can’t escape. In the Needfire, it’s the late 1800s and Norah has married Lord Barland, owner of the estate, Corrain House. She is making her very first journey out to her new home to meet the man she’s supposed to be with for the rest for life, for the first time. Of course, once she gets there, the man is not what she expected, the house staff behaves strangely toward her, and the villagers seem a little spooked. It takes some time for this story to find its pacing but once it gets going, there is a lot here to love. A strong debut and I’m eager for more.
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March 9, 2025I got to blurb this book!
“The Needfire combines all the elements of a traditional gothic novel – the derelict grand estate, the festering secrets, the prophetic dreams – with the more modern slow-burn sapphic love story. Add a pinch of witchcraft and a generous helping of female rage, and you end up with a haunting page-turner that demands to be felt.”
“The Needfire combines all the elements of a traditional gothic novel – the derelict grand estate, the festering secrets, the prophetic dreams – with the more modern slow-burn sapphic love story. Add a pinch of witchcraft and a generous helping of female rage, and you end up with a haunting page-turner that demands to be felt.”
November 30, 2024
Yearning: 10/10 palpable
Atmosphere: 10/10 eerie
Lesbians: 12/10 gay
Horror: 15/10 ARE YOU HAPPY? I DID NOT SLEEP FOR DAYS. I AM STILL SCARED OF TREES. I CANNOT LOOK AT A SHEEP. JUST BURN IT ALL DOWN
Ahem. Sorry. Read the book, it’s great.
Atmosphere: 10/10 eerie
Lesbians: 12/10 gay
Horror: 15/10 ARE YOU HAPPY? I DID NOT SLEEP FOR DAYS. I AM STILL SCARED OF TREES. I CANNOT LOOK AT A SHEEP. JUST BURN IT ALL DOWN
Ahem. Sorry. Read the book, it’s great.
November 29, 2024
I was lucky enough to beta read The Needfire as MK Hardy were writing it and it has stayed with me since. A phenomenally atmospheric, beautifully written love story inside one of the most haunting supernatural horror stories I've ever read. Pick it up - you won't regret it.
March 9, 2025
Gothic, my love!
Perfect for fans of Rebecca (especially those freaks like me who always wondered what would've happened if it was gay and the I would have gotten together with Mrs Danvers).
Perfect for fans of Rebecca (especially those freaks like me who always wondered what would've happened if it was gay and the I would have gotten together with Mrs Danvers).
July 31, 2025
Wow. What an amazing, fantastically written story. This is an excellent piece of gothic fiction.
Set in 1890s Scotland, the story follows Norah, who goes to a remote house to be married to a man she’s only corresponded with by letter. When she gets there, her new husband hardly talks and the housekeeper Agnes is acting suspiciously….everyone has lots of secrets which unfold over the course of the story. The house and local land are spooky and mysterious. The descriptions of the house, sea and landscape are poetic and stunning.
Beautifully gothic, atmospheric with creeping tension this scared the pants off me! I enjoyed the slow start and then fast pace towards the end.
Loved Norah and her development throughout the book. Really enjoyed the resolution too.
Amazing! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy to review!
Set in 1890s Scotland, the story follows Norah, who goes to a remote house to be married to a man she’s only corresponded with by letter. When she gets there, her new husband hardly talks and the housekeeper Agnes is acting suspiciously….everyone has lots of secrets which unfold over the course of the story. The house and local land are spooky and mysterious. The descriptions of the house, sea and landscape are poetic and stunning.
Beautifully gothic, atmospheric with creeping tension this scared the pants off me! I enjoyed the slow start and then fast pace towards the end.
Loved Norah and her development throughout the book. Really enjoyed the resolution too.
Amazing! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy to review!
July 10, 2025
The Needfire is a gothic-lover’s dream. Writhing with a dark and luscious atmosphere, the story unfolds against the backdrop of a bleak Scottish landscape with a cast of characters whose actions blur the lines between right and wrong, justice and revenge. It has everything I yearn for in a gothic tale: a sapphic romance, a houseful of secrets, and a scorching sense of dread.
April 16, 2026
Norah Mackenzie accepts an offer of marriage from Lord Barland, whose estate Corrain House is in the far north of Scotland. She is running from her past, and hoping for a fresh start.
Instead, she finds Lord Barland to be very different from the man with whom she had a many months-long correspondence (she had initiated the communications with the man when she needed to deal with her father's creditor). Over months, their letters transformed from business dealings to a shared warmth of feeling that gave her hope that she could marry a man who would care for her, and allow her an escape from what she found to be intolerable situations with a mother who looked down on her, and a failed romantic relationship with her childhood friend.
Norah finds Alexander Barland not only aloof and unwilling to engage at all with her, but a dark, dreary house full of cold rooms, only two servants, unfriendly villagers, and a land unfit for much.
Norah finds the groundskeeper McCullough to be dismissive of her, smirking at her requests, while the housekeeper, Agness Gunn, is quiet and aloof as well, and bearing a surprising resemblance to Alexander, pointing to less than respectable behaviour by his father. Norah also finds Gunn intriguing and increasingly attractive, choosing to spend time with her each morning.
Norah attempts to get to know the villagers near the estate, as well as people in the nearby town, but feels rebuffed by the mistrust people have for the dark influence of the Barlands on the area for years, and for their belief Agnes is a witch.
Norah also begins seeing ships on the nearby ocean that aren't there, hears noises, and wonders at the malign feelings she gets from the rowan tree in the garden.
With the house's very foundations crumbling, apparitions appearing and disappearing out of the corner of her eye, the rowan appearing surprisingly often in Norah's drawings, a husband growing increasingly distant and apathetic, and a housekeeper who seems equally interested in Norah, Corrain House proves to be a place with secrets and a history of destruction and failed hopes.
This is a story full of yearning and intimations of creepy, dark things arrayed against the Barlands, and more generally, the people in this part of the Scottish countryside.
Regarding the yearning: Norah yearns for a new start in life with a clean respectable slate: an attentive husband and a house to make her own. Meanwhile her past yearns for her to return to whatever situation she felt she needed to leave. Once at Corrain House, Norah yearns for respect from the people who live around and near Corrain House, yearns for the person she came to care for from his letters to her, even while she yearns after the enigmatic Agnes Dunn.
And for the creepy: there are small signs almost immediately that things are not right at Corrain House, and it's only slowly, and through persistent questions that Norah learns of the Barland history in the area, and how violence, death and abuse were part of it.
The book is primarily atmospheric and the pace is slow as Norah wonders how her choice to leave home has left her stranded and very alone. We get the snap of the wind off the ocean, the cold seeping in through the windows, the eerie feel of the Barland hunting trophies, the painful silences at dinner with Alexander, the disrespect of the groundkeeper and the mistrust of the villagers, and the naming of Gunn as a witch by women in the nearby town.
Norah must push and insist before she receives any answers, which only come late in the novel. So, if you want great atmosphere with a slow plot, this book is for you.
I liked it, and the steadily worsening situation within Corrain House, and the way everything seemed to be falling apart or dying, and the way the rowan tree seemed to be glaring and reaching out all the time, intent on causing harm.
So, tons of great atmosphere, slow pace, but nicely creepy feel.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Instead, she finds Lord Barland to be very different from the man with whom she had a many months-long correspondence (she had initiated the communications with the man when she needed to deal with her father's creditor). Over months, their letters transformed from business dealings to a shared warmth of feeling that gave her hope that she could marry a man who would care for her, and allow her an escape from what she found to be intolerable situations with a mother who looked down on her, and a failed romantic relationship with her childhood friend.
Norah finds Alexander Barland not only aloof and unwilling to engage at all with her, but a dark, dreary house full of cold rooms, only two servants, unfriendly villagers, and a land unfit for much.
Norah finds the groundskeeper McCullough to be dismissive of her, smirking at her requests, while the housekeeper, Agness Gunn, is quiet and aloof as well, and bearing a surprising resemblance to Alexander, pointing to less than respectable behaviour by his father. Norah also finds Gunn intriguing and increasingly attractive, choosing to spend time with her each morning.
Norah attempts to get to know the villagers near the estate, as well as people in the nearby town, but feels rebuffed by the mistrust people have for the dark influence of the Barlands on the area for years, and for their belief Agnes is a witch.
Norah also begins seeing ships on the nearby ocean that aren't there, hears noises, and wonders at the malign feelings she gets from the rowan tree in the garden.
With the house's very foundations crumbling, apparitions appearing and disappearing out of the corner of her eye, the rowan appearing surprisingly often in Norah's drawings, a husband growing increasingly distant and apathetic, and a housekeeper who seems equally interested in Norah, Corrain House proves to be a place with secrets and a history of destruction and failed hopes.
This is a story full of yearning and intimations of creepy, dark things arrayed against the Barlands, and more generally, the people in this part of the Scottish countryside.
Regarding the yearning: Norah yearns for a new start in life with a clean respectable slate: an attentive husband and a house to make her own. Meanwhile her past yearns for her to return to whatever situation she felt she needed to leave. Once at Corrain House, Norah yearns for respect from the people who live around and near Corrain House, yearns for the person she came to care for from his letters to her, even while she yearns after the enigmatic Agnes Dunn.
And for the creepy: there are small signs almost immediately that things are not right at Corrain House, and it's only slowly, and through persistent questions that Norah learns of the Barland history in the area, and how violence, death and abuse were part of it.
The book is primarily atmospheric and the pace is slow as Norah wonders how her choice to leave home has left her stranded and very alone. We get the snap of the wind off the ocean, the cold seeping in through the windows, the eerie feel of the Barland hunting trophies, the painful silences at dinner with Alexander, the disrespect of the groundkeeper and the mistrust of the villagers, and the naming of Gunn as a witch by women in the nearby town.
Norah must push and insist before she receives any answers, which only come late in the novel. So, if you want great atmosphere with a slow plot, this book is for you.
I liked it, and the steadily worsening situation within Corrain House, and the way everything seemed to be falling apart or dying, and the way the rowan tree seemed to be glaring and reaching out all the time, intent on causing harm.
So, tons of great atmosphere, slow pace, but nicely creepy feel.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 7, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Needfire is a gothic horror written by the Scottish duo MK Hardy, published by Solaris. A novel that blends together the traditional gothic motifs with more modern elements such as the sapphic slowburn romance, creating a fantastically written story with a dark atmosphere that plays into the backdrop of the Scottish landscape, topped by a perfect cast.
Norah Mackenzie, fleeing from the debts left by her alcoholic father, travels from Glasgow to the very north of Scotland; all in order to get married with Lord Alexander Barland, one of the men whose father owed money, who was really kind in his correspondence, despite being a bit cryptic. An opportunity to start with a marriage of convenience; however, all this hope is received with indifference by his new husband, almost a different man than the one she exchanged letters. Norah starts to be plagued by nightmares and strange dreams, and with Alexander acting weirdly, the state seems to be run by the enigmatic housekeeper, Gunn; a woman towards whom Norah finds herself pulled. With the villagers also being wary of Corrain House, Norah must discover what more is behind the state and reassure she's not losing her mind.
Characterization is part of what makes this novel so memorable. Norah is a great lead character, not totally innocent, fleeing from Glasgow to marry a man she doesn't know; at the end, coming to Corrain House is just the chance for a new life for her. Gunn is the other character that steals the scenario; a really enigmatic character who acts as the conductor thread for the plot, being necessary at many points. The attraction between these two will be a slowburn that also plays into the imbalance of the positions, slowly moving towards ignoring that in order to finally trust the other.
The setting is another of the highlights, creating a dark but also a bit decadent atmosphere at the center of Corrain House, also using the location to introduce more tension; a bit of a cautionary tale about the spoil of the natural resources can be read between lines, mashed together with Scottish myths.
The pacing is a bit too slow for my taste, especially because you could feel the characters moving too cautiously for what I would have expected; but it is true that is compensated with a superb development of the main duo.
The Needfire is a great sapphic gothic novel, a perfect choice if you want a highly atmospheric proposal with a bit of a modern touch; a debut that puts MK Hardy as a voice to continue following in the next years.
The Needfire is a gothic horror written by the Scottish duo MK Hardy, published by Solaris. A novel that blends together the traditional gothic motifs with more modern elements such as the sapphic slowburn romance, creating a fantastically written story with a dark atmosphere that plays into the backdrop of the Scottish landscape, topped by a perfect cast.
Norah Mackenzie, fleeing from the debts left by her alcoholic father, travels from Glasgow to the very north of Scotland; all in order to get married with Lord Alexander Barland, one of the men whose father owed money, who was really kind in his correspondence, despite being a bit cryptic. An opportunity to start with a marriage of convenience; however, all this hope is received with indifference by his new husband, almost a different man than the one she exchanged letters. Norah starts to be plagued by nightmares and strange dreams, and with Alexander acting weirdly, the state seems to be run by the enigmatic housekeeper, Gunn; a woman towards whom Norah finds herself pulled. With the villagers also being wary of Corrain House, Norah must discover what more is behind the state and reassure she's not losing her mind.
Characterization is part of what makes this novel so memorable. Norah is a great lead character, not totally innocent, fleeing from Glasgow to marry a man she doesn't know; at the end, coming to Corrain House is just the chance for a new life for her. Gunn is the other character that steals the scenario; a really enigmatic character who acts as the conductor thread for the plot, being necessary at many points. The attraction between these two will be a slowburn that also plays into the imbalance of the positions, slowly moving towards ignoring that in order to finally trust the other.
The setting is another of the highlights, creating a dark but also a bit decadent atmosphere at the center of Corrain House, also using the location to introduce more tension; a bit of a cautionary tale about the spoil of the natural resources can be read between lines, mashed together with Scottish myths.
The pacing is a bit too slow for my taste, especially because you could feel the characters moving too cautiously for what I would have expected; but it is true that is compensated with a superb development of the main duo.
The Needfire is a great sapphic gothic novel, a perfect choice if you want a highly atmospheric proposal with a bit of a modern touch; a debut that puts MK Hardy as a voice to continue following in the next years.
August 4, 2025
Scottish sapphic Gothic horror? Wow - such a niche genre; one I was so excited for, and thank you to Solaris and NetGalley for the review copy. Honestly? - I hadn't even thought of this combination of genre and place and character, so I didn't know it was lacking in my life until I read it!
Norah Mackenzie needs to escape her life (and mistakes) in Glasgow, and her best option seems to be to escape to the Highlands and marry a man who her alcoholic father owed money to, she's never met, decided to waive the money owed, started a sort of courtship, then almost went back on it with some cryptic warnings... okay, Norah is feeling desperate. But hopeful too, in spite of everything. This could be the making of her - Alexander wants her. She isn't wanted in Glasgow.
Further North, the world Norah discovers is beyond anything she could have dreamed of... Her betrothed is, somehow, less than she expected. He barely speaks, and this woman, the housekeeper Gunn, seems to run the entire estate. Who is Gunn really, and what is her connection to Barlow? Is Norah truly forgetting portions of time, or is the embarrassing amount of wine she drinks to blame? And what are the mutterings of curses, witchery, visions of dark trees and festering smells...?
It's an incredibly atmospheric book, but - for me - the pacing was off. The first 30% or so was almost painfully slow and when it sped up, the story arc wasn't consistent. After reading the acknowledgments, I can see that M.K. Hardy (two Scottish women) had a real job of pulling this together when their previous editor/agent was no longer available, and it became a real team effort of friends, colleagues etc to get this past the deadline date. I admire their tenacity, but I think it would have felt cleaner, an easier read, with a single editor - a single clearer thread running through the book, pushing forward in the right places, and pulling back at others.
I wanted to like this very much - Scottish lesbian Gothic! - and it fell slightly short of the mark. What would be ideal would be for an editor to get hold of this, tighten it up, and print a second run that just eases out all the creases... I want this to be a success for M.K Hardy, as it deserves to be, but I'm not sure whether in its current somewhat unwieldy state some readers will sadly give up prematurely...
M.K. Hardy describe it as 'giving a voice to those exploited and overlooked in this tumultuous period of history – including the land itself' - this is a brilliant description of the novel (although there's plenty of Sapphic fun as well 😉) and I hope that people beyond Scotland will also be entranced and moved to discover more about the region and the history, because it is certainly overlooked.
Difficult to review - there's SO much potential here, but it needs those finishing touches to become the bestseller it deserves to be.
Norah Mackenzie needs to escape her life (and mistakes) in Glasgow, and her best option seems to be to escape to the Highlands and marry a man who her alcoholic father owed money to, she's never met, decided to waive the money owed, started a sort of courtship, then almost went back on it with some cryptic warnings... okay, Norah is feeling desperate. But hopeful too, in spite of everything. This could be the making of her - Alexander wants her. She isn't wanted in Glasgow.
Further North, the world Norah discovers is beyond anything she could have dreamed of... Her betrothed is, somehow, less than she expected. He barely speaks, and this woman, the housekeeper Gunn, seems to run the entire estate. Who is Gunn really, and what is her connection to Barlow? Is Norah truly forgetting portions of time, or is the embarrassing amount of wine she drinks to blame? And what are the mutterings of curses, witchery, visions of dark trees and festering smells...?
It's an incredibly atmospheric book, but - for me - the pacing was off. The first 30% or so was almost painfully slow and when it sped up, the story arc wasn't consistent. After reading the acknowledgments, I can see that M.K. Hardy (two Scottish women) had a real job of pulling this together when their previous editor/agent was no longer available, and it became a real team effort of friends, colleagues etc to get this past the deadline date. I admire their tenacity, but I think it would have felt cleaner, an easier read, with a single editor - a single clearer thread running through the book, pushing forward in the right places, and pulling back at others.
I wanted to like this very much - Scottish lesbian Gothic! - and it fell slightly short of the mark. What would be ideal would be for an editor to get hold of this, tighten it up, and print a second run that just eases out all the creases... I want this to be a success for M.K Hardy, as it deserves to be, but I'm not sure whether in its current somewhat unwieldy state some readers will sadly give up prematurely...
M.K. Hardy describe it as 'giving a voice to those exploited and overlooked in this tumultuous period of history – including the land itself' - this is a brilliant description of the novel (although there's plenty of Sapphic fun as well 😉) and I hope that people beyond Scotland will also be entranced and moved to discover more about the region and the history, because it is certainly overlooked.
Difficult to review - there's SO much potential here, but it needs those finishing touches to become the bestseller it deserves to be.
June 18, 2025
This is as gothic and horror as anyone can get ... a bit of a slow start, took me a moment to be invested in the characters and the story.
It took us down a path that felt predictable but then had a brutal, but great conclusion that I appreciated.
*netgalley UK
It took us down a path that felt predictable but then had a brutal, but great conclusion that I appreciated.
*netgalley UK
March 21, 2026
I may have guessed part of the plot twist along the way.
At times, I even felt that certain fragments went a little toward the cheesy side.
But my goodness…what an atmospheric, immersive book it was!! A truly dreamlike gothic novel. Perfect!
I have started reading it not in Scotland, but in the north- west of Ireland, along the Wild Atlantic Way—staying in a remote cottage on the Belmullet peninsula, where the Irish winds howled fiercely and even whistled down the chimney and that became the soundtrack to my reading.
I’m finishing it now in Spanish Galicia, and even without those dramatic surroundings, I can still feel its haunting atmosphere lingering…
Thank you and hoping for more!
At times, I even felt that certain fragments went a little toward the cheesy side.
But my goodness…what an atmospheric, immersive book it was!! A truly dreamlike gothic novel. Perfect!
I have started reading it not in Scotland, but in the north- west of Ireland, along the Wild Atlantic Way—staying in a remote cottage on the Belmullet peninsula, where the Irish winds howled fiercely and even whistled down the chimney and that became the soundtrack to my reading.
I’m finishing it now in Spanish Galicia, and even without those dramatic surroundings, I can still feel its haunting atmosphere lingering…
Thank you and hoping for more!
March 6, 2025
I did find this book quite hard to get into, the first 30% was probably too long, I wish this bit had been cut shorter, as the book only starts to grab your attention around 30%. Unfortunately the pacing goes right back to 0 mph and it’s another struggle to get through. But then again, something happens at about 51% the hooks you win straight away. If this hadn’t been an ARC I’d have DNFd so please read this review with that in mind.
It’s easy to bond with the main character because you are just as lost as she is, although I can’t decide if that is a good thing.
Described as a horror, I wish there a bit more suspense in the book. Whenever something with the potential to be horror happens, they are flashed over by the author so quickly that it is over before it starts. In the slower parts of the book the author could have built suspense and planted seeds to get your mind going. It’s common knowledge that half of horror is your own thoughts working over time about the worst things that could happen.
The romance in the book is a very slow burn which has the air of regent yearning from the lady of the house. It’s not quite the lesbian love affair you want it to be. There are also a few grammatical and spelling errors that a quick edit would have picked up on.
The choice to make the FMC plus sized is confusing. The only thing it brings is a way for her and her month to insult her? Whenever she spoke about her weight or her size, it was only negative and I don't quite understand why the author would include a plus size woman just to constantly be negative about her size. It brought nothing to the plot, rather it’s just cheap shots.
I can see from the author's note at the end that they struggled to write the book and get it all out and that it was quite a long process until the ending which was rushed out in 3 weeks. And I think, as a reader, I can tell that I can tell that this isn't a cherished love or a passion. I feel like this story has just been written to be written. And not because the author is really inspired and empowered to tell a message.
It’s easy to bond with the main character because you are just as lost as she is, although I can’t decide if that is a good thing.
Described as a horror, I wish there a bit more suspense in the book. Whenever something with the potential to be horror happens, they are flashed over by the author so quickly that it is over before it starts. In the slower parts of the book the author could have built suspense and planted seeds to get your mind going. It’s common knowledge that half of horror is your own thoughts working over time about the worst things that could happen.
The romance in the book is a very slow burn which has the air of regent yearning from the lady of the house. It’s not quite the lesbian love affair you want it to be. There are also a few grammatical and spelling errors that a quick edit would have picked up on.
The choice to make the FMC plus sized is confusing. The only thing it brings is a way for her and her month to insult her? Whenever she spoke about her weight or her size, it was only negative and I don't quite understand why the author would include a plus size woman just to constantly be negative about her size. It brought nothing to the plot, rather it’s just cheap shots.
I can see from the author's note at the end that they struggled to write the book and get it all out and that it was quite a long process until the ending which was rushed out in 3 weeks. And I think, as a reader, I can tell that I can tell that this isn't a cherished love or a passion. I feel like this story has just been written to be written. And not because the author is really inspired and empowered to tell a message.
Want to Read
December 22, 2024A Scottish….sapphic ….gothic horror?! are you kidding was this literally made for me???
August 30, 2025
This took me FOREVER to get through.
I spent the first 50% of the book hoping it would pick up and the last 50% trudging through it because I felt I’d come too far to DNF it.
I can’t decide what made this book such a slog to read; whether it was the writing, the pacing, the characters…all of the above?
I also think this story could have easily been condensed into a novella, there just wasn’t enough plot here for a full-length novel.
My 2-star rating is purely for the setting and the premise (even though it was executed poorly in my opinion).
I spent the first 50% of the book hoping it would pick up and the last 50% trudging through it because I felt I’d come too far to DNF it.
I can’t decide what made this book such a slog to read; whether it was the writing, the pacing, the characters…all of the above?
I also think this story could have easily been condensed into a novella, there just wasn’t enough plot here for a full-length novel.
My 2-star rating is purely for the setting and the premise (even though it was executed poorly in my opinion).
July 30, 2025
Creepy plants are certainly a big theme for this year's horror and I'm not complaining.
The Needfire is an engrossing gothic novel in it's best form, as it comes with sapphic yearning. We follow Norah, who moves to an estate in North of Scotland to marry her husband who she's only exchanged letters with. The man she meets is not exactly what she expected but she's quickly distracted by the mysterious housekeeper, Agnes.
The mystery threaded throughout this story is honestly brilliant, the book gives you enough to figure certain things for yourself while keeping other reveals until the end. Agnes is a brilliant character, you never know how much you can trust her but her chemistry with Norah is so palpable that it's easy to come under Agnes' spell.
The Scottish Highlands give this book a gorgeous and at the same time unsettling backdrop. If you've ever experienced Scottish haar you know there's something about it that absolutely makes you feel like you're in a gothic novel.
This book is a great read if you're looking for a satisfying gothic novel but it's also brilliant if you want to feel yourself lost in Scottish scenery.
Thank you to Solaris and M.K. Hardy for providing me with the ARC.
The Needfire is an engrossing gothic novel in it's best form, as it comes with sapphic yearning. We follow Norah, who moves to an estate in North of Scotland to marry her husband who she's only exchanged letters with. The man she meets is not exactly what she expected but she's quickly distracted by the mysterious housekeeper, Agnes.
The mystery threaded throughout this story is honestly brilliant, the book gives you enough to figure certain things for yourself while keeping other reveals until the end. Agnes is a brilliant character, you never know how much you can trust her but her chemistry with Norah is so palpable that it's easy to come under Agnes' spell.
The Scottish Highlands give this book a gorgeous and at the same time unsettling backdrop. If you've ever experienced Scottish haar you know there's something about it that absolutely makes you feel like you're in a gothic novel.
This book is a great read if you're looking for a satisfying gothic novel but it's also brilliant if you want to feel yourself lost in Scottish scenery.
Thank you to Solaris and M.K. Hardy for providing me with the ARC.
July 20, 2025
Set in the 1890s in the remote wilds of the Scottish Highlands, we follow Norah, a woman who is escaping Glasgow, from the societal confines. She marries for a chance of freedom, a fresh start from her troubles at home.
Her new home is the litterally crumbling Corain House. Her husband is distant, distracted, and feels like a stranger. He doesn't seem to know her despite their warm, written correspondence. Her only companion seems to be the housekeeper Agnes Gunn, who appears to be hiding secrets of her own.
The descriptions of the sea and landscape were atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful. The story is gothic and dark, and I was invested from the start. It is beautifully written, rich, atmospheric, and creepy.
I loved how the author described the connection between Norah and Agnes. A lot of which we come to realise has already developed before Norah arrives in the house.
There was a growing sense of unease throughout the story, but I did expect more horror elements to unsettle you as a reader. The descriptions seemed to be over as quickly as they started. I did love how the house came alive the longer Norah spent there.
The authors note at the end says that the book was a long process other than the ending, which was rushed out in 3 weeks, and I think you can sense that as a reader, it didn't have as much passion as the rest of the book and things all seemed to happen quite quickly.
I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy a gothic, sapphic, slow burn with elements of witchcraft set in Scotland. I did really enjoy this authors writing and will definitely be picking up their books in the future.
Her new home is the litterally crumbling Corain House. Her husband is distant, distracted, and feels like a stranger. He doesn't seem to know her despite their warm, written correspondence. Her only companion seems to be the housekeeper Agnes Gunn, who appears to be hiding secrets of her own.
The descriptions of the sea and landscape were atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful. The story is gothic and dark, and I was invested from the start. It is beautifully written, rich, atmospheric, and creepy.
I loved how the author described the connection between Norah and Agnes. A lot of which we come to realise has already developed before Norah arrives in the house.
There was a growing sense of unease throughout the story, but I did expect more horror elements to unsettle you as a reader. The descriptions seemed to be over as quickly as they started. I did love how the house came alive the longer Norah spent there.
The authors note at the end says that the book was a long process other than the ending, which was rushed out in 3 weeks, and I think you can sense that as a reader, it didn't have as much passion as the rest of the book and things all seemed to happen quite quickly.
I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy a gothic, sapphic, slow burn with elements of witchcraft set in Scotland. I did really enjoy this authors writing and will definitely be picking up their books in the future.
July 28, 2025
The Needfire opens with an intensely gothic setting and an intriguing set up. Norah Mackenzie arrives in a remote part of Scotland on a dreary, dark and foggy evening. She abruptly marries a man she barely knows and begins a new life as mistress of an eerie house with only the taciturn housekeeper for company. This was a very atmospheric, slow-burn read with supernatural elements and I liked the way that the novel was imbued with mystery. However, I didn’t find the narrative especially gripping and I predicted a key plot twist early in the story. I chose to read this because it was marketed for fans of Rebecca. While I can see how comparisons have been drawn between the two works, I didn't enjoy The Needfire as much as Rebecca.
Thank you to the publishers – Rebellion | Solaris – and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publishers – Rebellion | Solaris – and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
Thank you for this ARC from NetGally.
I enjoyed the book but I didn't feel the relationship between Norah and Agnes would develop as it did the signs for it and tensions just weren't there and then it was happening but it felt very cold and lifeless.
I wanted more thrilling horror elements considering it was likened to the hacienda and Rebecca. It was a gothic story set in a vivid isolated setting but I feel the similarities stop there.
The pacing of the book was also lacking as I felt so much happened in the last 10% of the book and the rest did nothing but up tension to the ending.
I liked the author's writing style so I would pick up their books again but would hope for a story with more substance.
I enjoyed the book but I didn't feel the relationship between Norah and Agnes would develop as it did the signs for it and tensions just weren't there and then it was happening but it felt very cold and lifeless.
I wanted more thrilling horror elements considering it was likened to the hacienda and Rebecca. It was a gothic story set in a vivid isolated setting but I feel the similarities stop there.
The pacing of the book was also lacking as I felt so much happened in the last 10% of the book and the rest did nothing but up tension to the ending.
I liked the author's writing style so I would pick up their books again but would hope for a story with more substance.
June 23, 2025
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This book was so atmospheric. It mostly takes place in an isolated, coastal village in Northern Scotland, and we are largely restricted to the local manor. A home teetering on the edge of a perilous looking cliff. Our main character has travelled from Glasgow to marry the owner of said home, following an exchange of letters. This will help her family, but also allows her to escape a situation that she no longer wishes to be in. The setting is perfect for this book, we have suspicious locals, ghostly apparitions on the sea, a looming manor. There’s a real sense of unease here which is compounded by the isolation. The house is inhabited only by the taciturn housekeeper and the disturbed owner. There’s an animosity coming from the villagers and everyone seems to be keeping secrets. Our main character is dropped into a world of old grudges and everyone seems to know something she doesn’t.
There’s a growing sense of unease, and our main character can’t trust her own senses at times. This book feels increasingly insidious and disturbing as we learn more about what has transpired.
This was a great gothic novel, it nailed the atmosphere and themes and made for an entertaining, mysterious and unnerving read.
This book was so atmospheric. It mostly takes place in an isolated, coastal village in Northern Scotland, and we are largely restricted to the local manor. A home teetering on the edge of a perilous looking cliff. Our main character has travelled from Glasgow to marry the owner of said home, following an exchange of letters. This will help her family, but also allows her to escape a situation that she no longer wishes to be in. The setting is perfect for this book, we have suspicious locals, ghostly apparitions on the sea, a looming manor. There’s a real sense of unease here which is compounded by the isolation. The house is inhabited only by the taciturn housekeeper and the disturbed owner. There’s an animosity coming from the villagers and everyone seems to be keeping secrets. Our main character is dropped into a world of old grudges and everyone seems to know something she doesn’t.
There’s a growing sense of unease, and our main character can’t trust her own senses at times. This book feels increasingly insidious and disturbing as we learn more about what has transpired.
This was a great gothic novel, it nailed the atmosphere and themes and made for an entertaining, mysterious and unnerving read.
March 11, 2026
A sapphic, dark and moody atmospheric read.
The overall story is very captivating, but for me,it was very slow paced.
I enjoyed the supernatural element of the landscape. The description is fantastic. A spiritual wilderness intent on seeking revenge.
The development of Norah and Agnes's relationship was slow at the start, but towards the end I could see the close connection they had with one another, more than just physically. The author portrayed well the difficulties of being 'different' and the social status expected of women in the 1800s - more so through Norah's life back in her home city of Glasglow.
The overall story is very captivating, but for me,it was very slow paced.
I enjoyed the supernatural element of the landscape. The description is fantastic. A spiritual wilderness intent on seeking revenge.
The development of Norah and Agnes's relationship was slow at the start, but towards the end I could see the close connection they had with one another, more than just physically. The author portrayed well the difficulties of being 'different' and the social status expected of women in the 1800s - more so through Norah's life back in her home city of Glasglow.
October 6, 2025
ever heard of live, laugh, love
this is die, cry, hate😭 in a fantastic whimsical way🥰
this is die, cry, hate😭 in a fantastic whimsical way🥰
March 21, 2026
was the house, land or her the issue? confused throughout the book.
magic? the paranormal? or both
magic? the paranormal? or both
October 21, 2025
Set in a perfectly isolated and unforgiving Scottish landscape, this was a gothic dream of a book - atmospheric, full of intrigue, longing, and secrets, deliciously dark, and beautifully haunting.
July 3, 2025
4.25/5
Thank you so much to @solarisbooks for the ARC!
As promised in my last post, here's another sapphic horror recommendation for you! The Needfire by author duo MK Hardy is a sumptuously gothic standalone set in late 19th Century remote Scotland. I love a historical fiction with paranormal aspects as you get to learn about real events of the time and this novel explores the aftermath of the Highland Clearances during which there was a significant number of tenants evicted from the land in the Scottish Highlands.
MK Hardy describe it as 'giving a voice to those exploited and overlooked in this tumultuous period of history – including the land itself' and I especially loved this aspect. The gothic atmosphere, time and place is so well-realised that I felt swept away to the foggy and wild estate of Corrain House that feels to our main character Norah like the edge of the world, following her escape from Glasgow to a marriage of convenience.
She soon realises all may not be as it seemed and I could definitely feel the influence of gothic classics such as Rebecca - the mystery, suspense and unravelling of Norah's reality had me turning the pages and I devoured this over a grey and rainy weekend.
🗝️Lush prose
🗝️Sapphic yearning
🗝️Slow creeping dread
🗝️Witches
🗝️Folk/ natural horror
It moves at a slower but steady pace that builds up, and I was surprised by some of the twists! I wasn’t sure about some of Norah's choices towards the end but honestly this woman has been slowly losing her mind throughout the events of this book so that kind of makes sense.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves gothic fiction, it's such an impressive debut and will be perfect for the 'ber months to come!
Thank you so much to @solarisbooks for the ARC!
As promised in my last post, here's another sapphic horror recommendation for you! The Needfire by author duo MK Hardy is a sumptuously gothic standalone set in late 19th Century remote Scotland. I love a historical fiction with paranormal aspects as you get to learn about real events of the time and this novel explores the aftermath of the Highland Clearances during which there was a significant number of tenants evicted from the land in the Scottish Highlands.
MK Hardy describe it as 'giving a voice to those exploited and overlooked in this tumultuous period of history – including the land itself' and I especially loved this aspect. The gothic atmosphere, time and place is so well-realised that I felt swept away to the foggy and wild estate of Corrain House that feels to our main character Norah like the edge of the world, following her escape from Glasgow to a marriage of convenience.
She soon realises all may not be as it seemed and I could definitely feel the influence of gothic classics such as Rebecca - the mystery, suspense and unravelling of Norah's reality had me turning the pages and I devoured this over a grey and rainy weekend.
🗝️Lush prose
🗝️Sapphic yearning
🗝️Slow creeping dread
🗝️Witches
🗝️Folk/ natural horror
It moves at a slower but steady pace that builds up, and I was surprised by some of the twists! I wasn’t sure about some of Norah's choices towards the end but honestly this woman has been slowly losing her mind throughout the events of this book so that kind of makes sense.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves gothic fiction, it's such an impressive debut and will be perfect for the 'ber months to come!
May 25, 2025
Wuthering Heights meets A Scatter of Light in this sapphic gothic novel filled to the brim with spooky trees, hazardous houses and the feeling of the main character slowly losing her grip on reality.
Emoji Aesthetic: 🪻🐦⬛🎨🌬️🪟
Listen to
🎶 Monster - Dodie
🎶 Fare Well - Hozier
🎶 Ramblings of a Lunatic - Bears in Trees
Have you ever read something and been like: this is beautiful but also deeply, deeply disturbing? That’s how I felt reading this book. It was written so unbelievably well, I got the creeps just reading the descriptions. At the beginning of the book, everything is just slightly off-putting. As the story progresses, you begin to really notice that the narrative and the rest don’t fit; the main character is slowly losing the plot. It was done incredibly well.
I also love that the sapphic love is described both as both harsh and pointy, needing and devouring, AND as soft and still. Generally, of course, the main love story is toxic as hell, but it’s a gothic novel, so I expected it. I also really enjoy how both women in the story subverted gender roles and societal expectations placed on them in their own ways. Overall, would recommend!
TW: death, needles, animal death (lamb), gore, drugging
I received a complementary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Emoji Aesthetic: 🪻🐦⬛🎨🌬️🪟
Listen to
🎶 Monster - Dodie
🎶 Fare Well - Hozier
🎶 Ramblings of a Lunatic - Bears in Trees
Have you ever read something and been like: this is beautiful but also deeply, deeply disturbing? That’s how I felt reading this book. It was written so unbelievably well, I got the creeps just reading the descriptions. At the beginning of the book, everything is just slightly off-putting. As the story progresses, you begin to really notice that the narrative and the rest don’t fit; the main character is slowly losing the plot. It was done incredibly well.
I also love that the sapphic love is described both as both harsh and pointy, needing and devouring, AND as soft and still. Generally, of course, the main love story is toxic as hell, but it’s a gothic novel, so I expected it. I also really enjoy how both women in the story subverted gender roles and societal expectations placed on them in their own ways. Overall, would recommend!
TW: death, needles, animal death (lamb), gore, drugging
I received a complementary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 5, 2025
Arc received from NetGalley and Solaris for a fair review in return
4.5
Omg this was such a great book to read in pride month, the perfect blend of palpable writing, descriptive setting in Scotland, slowburn sapphic romance and I loved it soooo much
4.5
Omg this was such a great book to read in pride month, the perfect blend of palpable writing, descriptive setting in Scotland, slowburn sapphic romance and I loved it soooo much
May 5, 2025
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for gifting an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was really intrigued by the blurb and cover of this book, and I’m always a fan of gothic literature set in the Highlands. The plot starts very slowly and takes a while to really pick up pace, but is quite intriguing once it gets going.
In terms of gothic and horror, there were some genuinely creepy, spine-tingling moments, and I found it hard to put down for the last third or so of the book.
I did feel quite unsure about what was actually going on for quite a lot of the book, although the main character is also mostly in the dark so this is understandable, and it did add to a general sense of unease as I was reading.
The writing was a bit repetitive at times, which I think sometimes worked in showing the remoteness of the house and the bleakness of Norah’s life there, but at other times it took me out of the suspense of the plot - they seem to spend half the book making or drinking tea!
The romance plot was okay, although I think it suffered from quite rushed development of both Norah and Agnes. Norah’s backstory was a very interesting premise but the length of the book doesn’t really give much chance to properly explore it. I also felt like the book didn’t have chance to do the complexities of Agnes’s character justice, particularly because it is Norah’s perspective we read, so I would like to have seen more of her.
Overall it’s a good, quick gothic read, ideal for anyone who enjoys nature horror, creepy country houses, and remote Scottish Highland settings.
I was really intrigued by the blurb and cover of this book, and I’m always a fan of gothic literature set in the Highlands. The plot starts very slowly and takes a while to really pick up pace, but is quite intriguing once it gets going.
In terms of gothic and horror, there were some genuinely creepy, spine-tingling moments, and I found it hard to put down for the last third or so of the book.
I did feel quite unsure about what was actually going on for quite a lot of the book, although the main character is also mostly in the dark so this is understandable, and it did add to a general sense of unease as I was reading.
The writing was a bit repetitive at times, which I think sometimes worked in showing the remoteness of the house and the bleakness of Norah’s life there, but at other times it took me out of the suspense of the plot - they seem to spend half the book making or drinking tea!
The romance plot was okay, although I think it suffered from quite rushed development of both Norah and Agnes. Norah’s backstory was a very interesting premise but the length of the book doesn’t really give much chance to properly explore it. I also felt like the book didn’t have chance to do the complexities of Agnes’s character justice, particularly because it is Norah’s perspective we read, so I would like to have seen more of her.
Overall it’s a good, quick gothic read, ideal for anyone who enjoys nature horror, creepy country houses, and remote Scottish Highland settings.
April 13, 2026
Bored
June 1, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, but had to DNF. Well, sort of—I gave up at 60% and went ahead to the last three chapters. The remote, spooky setting was brilliant and atmospheric, but the pacing was way too slow. Plus, I had zero emotional connection with either Norah or Agnes, and had no sense of a spark between them. The horror/supernatural aspect too was too obvious. My biggest gripe is the pace—noting really happened in half the book, and the story could have easily been condensed into half its size. The only decent twist/reveal was the truth about Alexander.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
(Review copy from NetGalley)
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