Half a Dark Heart

by H.F. Askwith

The Horrors gain strength when things in our world are broken.

A bone. A promise. A heart.

Ever since she first encountered 'The Horrors', Alice has hidden herself safely behind the walls of her family's Whitby guest house. Only her beloved sister, Lucille, knows why: that Alice can see things - gruesome, terrible things - in the darkest corners of our world. Shadow-monsters which will do anything to satisfy their violent cravings - and seemingly nothing can stop them. Of course, no one would believe them if they told them - and so the girls stay silent.

That is, until Lucille goes missing, and the boy she was in love disappears too. All of which coincides with the arrival of Austin - a dashing young actor from London, who claims a demon has stolen his voice, and only Alice can help him.

Faced with a world and powers she never even knew existed, Alice must race against time to save her sister, herself, and perhaps the only other person who's ever cared about her. As well as send a demon or two back to where they came from . . .

"The atmospheric horromantasy I’ve been craving!" - Laura Steven, bestselling author of Our Infinite Fates

A stunning gothic-horror romantasy, Half a Dark Heart is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Cassandra Clare and Sarah Waters.

"Haunting, atmospheric and suspenseful . . . a completely captivating gothic mystery" - Bea Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

Haunting, atmospheric and suspenseful, Half A Dark Heart is a completely captivating gothic mystery. I haven’t been swept away by a book like this in a long time and I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun being utterly terrified. ― Bea Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

Half A Dark Heart is the atmospheric horromantasy I’ve been craving! With a devastatingly tender love story, an evocative gothic setting, and a deep exploration of the power of sisterhood, this book is going to stay with me for a long time ― Laura Steven, bestselling author of Our Infinite Fates

I absolutely loved Half a Dark Heart!It is such a gripping, multilayered read, [which] evokes Whitby in all its Gothic glory absolutely superbly. It's sinister, poignant, and utterly enthralling. It's taken so many elements of Victorian literature and reimagined them in a way that shows Heather's love for literature, but also a wonderfully innovative approach to the genre. The Otherworld is a truly horrific invention (in the best sense!), and I am absolutely here for Alice and Lucille's future adventures! ― Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings

Praise for A Dark Inheritance: "A powerful, heart-racing story of family, fate, and writing your own destiny. Intricately plotted and luminously written - I loved it ― Laura Steven, bestselling author of Our Infinite Fates --This text refers to the paperback edition.


H.F. Askwith is the author of three YA gothic fantasy thrillers – A Dark Inheritance, A Cruel Twist of Fate and Half A Dark Heart. She is a Northern Writers' Award winner and has an MA in Creative Writing. When she's not writing, she loves solving puzzles, playing board games with her family and running.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult, Romantasy, Novels, Gothic

400 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2026

About the author

H.F. Askwith is the author of three YA gothic fantasy thrillers - A Dark Inheritance, A Cruel Twist of Fate and Half a Dark Heart. She is a Northern Writers' Award winner and has an MA in Creative Writing. When she's not writing, she loves solving puzzles, playing board games with her family and running.

Reviews

[Brend · Rating 4 out of 5]

First 60%? 5 stars. delectable.
The part where things get moving and we get more action? meh

I am the reader for whom those ''slow! just vibes! too focused on the characters!'' stories are written.

[Auriane · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

So much potential, but most of it unexploited. I wished there had been more closure and not just this weird open ending (to be fair I hate open endings, so I’m completely biased here). I had really hoped for more development be it for the characters or the plot. Most of it feels incomplete or rushed. Some plot threads also seem to have been abandoned altogether (What do you mean they left poor Austin set in stone in the Otherworld and never attempted anything again to save him even though he still seems to be alive?!). The ending is just plainly cruel without offering any of the characters a chance at a hopeful resolution, and feels designed solely to make the reader miserable.

The pacing was kind of weird: passages full of urgency interrupted by long conversations explaining how the supernatural elements work or even romantic moments (not the right place, not the right time, my dears).

Food for thought: Does a horror novel necessarily need a bleak ending?

I’m honestly sad I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I wanted. The ideas of the sister duos, their powers, the legacy, the potential of breaking the cycle, the romance, the intertwined stories between the characters were all wonderful but barely developed. Those ideas are the main reason I’m still giving it a modest but respectable 2.5 stars.

[cynthia ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, honestly had so much potential, wish we could have gotten more depth into their powers, the otherworld and especially Isobel’s family at the end, that would have been so cool to read about. also Austin I’m actually sad

[Jasmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book from this author and i must say i was pleasantly surprised. Very good written and has such a good atmosphere that i couldn't get the book down.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight post. It has not affected my opinions.

HALF A DARK HEART is an atmospheric tale about sisters.

This book is, in some respects, a historical fantasy - it's set in the past with fantastical elements. I wouldn't absolutely classify it as a historical fantasy because the book never tells you when exactly it was set. It floats through time and can only be tied down to a loose range - there are steam trains from Whitby (so can't be before 1845) and there are still horse drawn buses in London (so it can't be later than 1910.)

The marketing calls it a "gothic thriller", which is a genre combo I've not seen before. While the mystery of the sister is key to the story, I do thriller is a misleading term. The pacing is not that of a thriller and there aren't really suspects. Plus, you do actually find out what happened to her sister by at least the half-way mark - then it's about rescuing her. I think fantasy is a better description.

The gothic does feel appropriate, though. There is a darker tone to the story thanks to the otherworld and its monsters, which manifests in a heavy atmosphere. The dread increases across the book as you learn more about the magic and monsters - and the consequences of all the secrets. It's really well done, the gradual increase meaning you're eased in and then ensnared once it's too late.

I really liked the Whitby setting (we do end up in London). The north is so under appreciated in fiction and I also liked that this was a Whitby without vampires. The town is usually just present in fiction for that association with Dracula and the striking remains of the abbey with its pointy decoration, but there is more to it than that stereotype. It was so nice to see this tale avoiding that common ground.

The heart of this book is sisterhood. Alice is searching for her sister. Her mother is estranged from her sister. What are we willing to do for our sisters? How does that close bond lead to horrible injuries that are some of the worst betrayals possible? Yes, there is a love story between Alice and Austin, but they are not THE love story of the book - that is Alice and her sister.

[Melissa Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half a Dark heart is a gripping, haunting story of love, loss, grief and finding your courage.
I went into this very worried I wasn't going to like it as it isn't the typical kind of book I'd pick up but I'm very glad to be proven wrong. This story centralizes around Alice, an 18 year old girl who can see terrible creatures and has shut herself away. She's a very interesting FMC, she's kind and loving but when her sister goes missing she has to force herself to be brave and step outside and as the reader I was incredibly proud of her. She goes on this journey not just to find her sister but a journey of self discovery about herself, her courage and the power she wields. I loved her!
Austin is our love interest and whilst I spent a lot of the book being sceptical about his intentions he ended up being so incredibly brave and loved Alice! They had some wonderful tension.
The only thing I didn't like is I felt their relationship could've used a little more development. It was kind of insta love and thats a trope I never really care for. I also felt they knew very little about each other before they were confessing their feelings. Its always something that bothers me when the characters don't get to know each other.
There was a definitive theme of sisterly love throughout this book. Alice literally puts herself through hell to get her sister back, not believing anyone when they say she's ran off and trusting her own gut. There is also a very strong theme of grief and dealing with loss, definitely some moments that had me welling up.
Excited to see if there's going to be any more books in this series, with the way it ended there is definitely potential.

[Vicky 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable book with an interesting setting and start to the story. I did not expect the story to go where it did!

When reading it, I thought “it has a lot to unpack to finish up this story”. The story started off slow (which made it hard to get into for me), but sped up a lot toward the end. I do think there was a lot of “telling” that happened which I typically don’t like but it was creative; placing information in a journal entry, and within letters. Changing the form within a novel always thrills me a bit.

The fantasy element kept me intrigued! I want to know so much more about the Otherworld. I want to know more about the origins and the ins and outs of the girls’ powers too.

The romance was fun and exciting. It made me feel suspicious of Austin from the beginning but I grew to like it. I cannot believe he fuking DIED in the end WOW I did not expect that. But the surprise was thrilling at the same time.

Overall, I think the book was enjoyable and I would read a bit of an encyclopaedia about their world but can’t imagine another major sequel happening, unless Austin was truly alive and is now just dwelling in the Otherworld…

The book was missing an excitement to it, I think that’s what’s keeping it at a 4/5 for me.

[C.L. Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strange book, and heavy with emotion, particularly towards the end. Horrors from the Otherworld come through to our world when anything is broken (an object, a promise, a dream), and devour humans in cruel and unusual ways. Alice, the main character, can see them, and has been terrified since her first encounter at 13. Now an agoraphobic adult, whose day to day consists of helping her mum run their guest house, she has to confront those fears and a hidden fire within when her sister goes missing.

And just for extra heartbreak, there's a love interest in there too 🤐

[Vicky Titmuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half a Dark Heart by H.F Askwith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A bone. A promise. A heart
Alice is haunted by unimaginable horrors, staying hidden away in her families guest house. But when her sister disappears, she’s forced to face her fears alongside Austin, a mysterious actor with a lost voice and secrets of his own.
Set in the seaside town of Whitby, then London, this dark tale is haunted in the very best way, with plenty of twists, turns and a bittersweet ending.

[Callie Donnachie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really easy story, a good level of excitement but nothing that had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the ideas and the storyline, and the importance of sisterhood!! Even though it took a while to read, i still cried for the last quarter :((

Summary: Really easy filler book, good for a quite night

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

H.F. Askwith's writing always has a dreamlike quality, this is no exception, a hidden otherworld crawling with monsters, two sisters destined to close the doors leading to it, loss, heartbreak, and the sweeping scenery of Whitby. A lovely read

[Melissa Gumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has 40 ratings on Goodreads. My partner chose it randomly for me one day in a bookshop and I wasn’t disappointed. Couldn’t stop reading it. I loved the adventure (reminds me of a vintage Stranger Things), and also loved how it ended. Devastated that Austin died, however it did make sense.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, it was creepy yet engaging. I liked the idea of broken things causing the horrors to come, what a unique concept. So many of the characters were annoying though, especially Alice’s mother.

[Emily Routledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Howls moving castle or the Emily Wilde's series, then this could be for you. Similar vibes but a little bit darker.
I am heartbroken... But have hope that there is an opportunity for a sequel!

[sylvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell me why im suddenly reading at the speed of light when my first a level is in like 2 days.
Anyway I rlly enjoyed this icl the writing was just kind of scrumptious and it was so easy to get sucked into the story

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 58% - it had such a great premise. I love an underworld paranormal gothic fantasy. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect to the characters and I wasn’t invested in whether they succeeded in finding Lucille or getting Austin’s voice back.

[Becki Dawson-Darby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled to fully connect to the characters. Interesting premise and a good story but I was just constantly left wanting slightly more, so a bit dissatisfied with this one.

[Bia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice refreshing original story, interesting and fruitful. A bit too much filler and a slower buildup but definitely a story worth reading.

[Anne Cordelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: it has no happy end.

[JODIE PINNOCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and thought the twist was really good at the end - wasn’t expecting it at all.

[Chanel Chapters]

Don’t care

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story, I loved it so much.

[Florence-ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I liked it. Enjoyed the plot the characters the world. But felt like everything needed a bit more depth for me to connect with it all

[Elisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a bit long and dragged out in places. I almost gave it three stars

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well...i didn't expect it to be sad. I also love a sisterly bond at the centre of the story. When i wasn't reading i was itching to pick it up

[Edie Wespieser · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

‘The horrors gain strength when things in our world are broken…
A bone. A promise. A heart’
~Half a Dark Heart

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

19.02.2026

Huge thanks to Rebecca at Penguin for sending me a copy of this!

Set against the backdrop of a Victorian Whitby, this book is suitably spooky, full of yearning and complex sister / mother relationships. I really liked the idea of the horrors and how these mimicked, and the ancestral elements threaded throughout.

My favourite part of this book though was the last 50-100 pages, when Alice really seemed to settle into herself more and grow. And the twist? Had me in a puddle of tears. Interested to see if the author continues with this story in a future book!

[tash · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and penguin for providing me with this arc of h. f. askwith’s half a dark heart

i liked the story. i found it really interesting and i kept wanting to read it. i also found myself thinking about it when i wasn’t reading.

however, i do wish there was dual POV with alice and lucille and/or flashbacks of their parents and aunt sybil to explain the whole otherworld system rather than doctor binding/austin explaining it. plus, the way the story ended was rather underwhelming, especially with the way lucille found alice

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this one didn't really work for me.

The writing was lovely and the concept was amazing but I just could not connect to any of the characters. In fact, most of them annoyed me and they really dampened my enjoyment of the whole story.

Overall not one I can really recommend.

many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc