What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Feathers
Where ghosts tread, black feathers fall . . .
When Annie marries widower Edward Stonehouse and arrives at Guardbridge, his estate on the Yorkshire moors, she thinks she has finally put darkness behind her.
She is mistaken.
Edward's sister, Iris, still lives in the family home. A taxidermist and medium, she urges Annie to watch out for black feathers - claiming that they mark the spot where a spirit has visited.
At first, Annie dismisses her warnings. But, before long, she begins to feel haunted.
What exactly happened to Edward's first wife? Why is Iris so disturbed?
And should Annie really be watching for signs from the dead - or is she the one being watched?
SET ON THE YORKSHIRE MOORS IN THE 1800S, THE BLACK FEATHERS IS A GHOSTLY TALE OF MAGIC AND WICKEDNESS.
When Annie marries widower Edward Stonehouse and arrives at Guardbridge, his estate on the Yorkshire moors, she thinks she has finally put darkness behind her.
She is mistaken.
Edward's sister, Iris, still lives in the family home. A taxidermist and medium, she urges Annie to watch out for black feathers - claiming that they mark the spot where a spirit has visited.
At first, Annie dismisses her warnings. But, before long, she begins to feel haunted.
What exactly happened to Edward's first wife? Why is Iris so disturbed?
And should Annie really be watching for signs from the dead - or is she the one being watched?
SET ON THE YORKSHIRE MOORS IN THE 1800S, THE BLACK FEATHERS IS A GHOSTLY TALE OF MAGIC AND WICKEDNESS.
369 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2023
107 people are currently reading
6052 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Netley
6 books236 followersRebecca Netley grew up as part of an eccentric family in a house full of books and music and these things have fed her passions. Family and writing remain at the heart of Rebecca’s life. She lives in the UK with her husband, sons and an over-enthusiastic dog, who gives her writing tips.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
March 27, 2024
Gripping, dark, gothic, and ghostly! The Black Feathers was such an enjoyable and eerie book by Rebecca Netley. This is the second book that I have read by this author, the first book being The Whistling, and I love how her books have interesting women as the main characters.
Annie has married Edward Stonehouse and has moved with him and their infant son to Guardbridge, his manor home on the Yorkshire moors. Edward's sister Iris lives in the manor home, and she is quite an interesting character. She is both a psychic and a taxidermist. She invites Annie to attend the séances she performs...
This book had many elements that I love in books. The Gothic feel of the home. It's dark, cold, has many passages and creepy. I also loved the atmosphere created by the moors, the chill in the air, and the old manor home. The days feel long, and the nights are dark. Lying in bed, one can hear the soft steps of the servants, the sound of the wind, and see the shadows cast on the walls. Not to mention the secrets swirling in the air.
I also loved the question about what happened to Edward’s first wife and child. Is Annie safe? Who can she trust? I loved trying to figure out these questions. I loved the mounting sense of unease, tension, and mounting danger in the book. I love books that have the something-isn’t-quite-right feel to them. This book fit that description perfectly!
All the characters have distinct personalities with interesting backstories. Annie and Edward both had their individual motivations for getting married to each other. Iris and her companion, Mrs. North, are interesting and seldom apart.
I enjoy Rebecca Netley's wonderful writing, her vivid descriptions, and the gothic mysteries she created in this book. Yes, mysteries. There are several!
If you have not read a book by Rebecca Netley, I encourage you to do so.
Gothic, gripping, and atmospheric!
This was a buddy read with Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words. As always, we had a wonderful time discussing this book. Please read her review as well to get her impressions of The Black Feathers.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Annie has married Edward Stonehouse and has moved with him and their infant son to Guardbridge, his manor home on the Yorkshire moors. Edward's sister Iris lives in the manor home, and she is quite an interesting character. She is both a psychic and a taxidermist. She invites Annie to attend the séances she performs...
This book had many elements that I love in books. The Gothic feel of the home. It's dark, cold, has many passages and creepy. I also loved the atmosphere created by the moors, the chill in the air, and the old manor home. The days feel long, and the nights are dark. Lying in bed, one can hear the soft steps of the servants, the sound of the wind, and see the shadows cast on the walls. Not to mention the secrets swirling in the air.
I also loved the question about what happened to Edward’s first wife and child. Is Annie safe? Who can she trust? I loved trying to figure out these questions. I loved the mounting sense of unease, tension, and mounting danger in the book. I love books that have the something-isn’t-quite-right feel to them. This book fit that description perfectly!
All the characters have distinct personalities with interesting backstories. Annie and Edward both had their individual motivations for getting married to each other. Iris and her companion, Mrs. North, are interesting and seldom apart.
I enjoy Rebecca Netley's wonderful writing, her vivid descriptions, and the gothic mysteries she created in this book. Yes, mysteries. There are several!
If you have not read a book by Rebecca Netley, I encourage you to do so.
Gothic, gripping, and atmospheric!
This was a buddy read with Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words. As always, we had a wonderful time discussing this book. Please read her review as well to get her impressions of The Black Feathers.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 21, 2023
What story lies behind that tantalising cover? Well, I can tell you it’s one I find hard to put down. (Lol - the gorgeous cover isn’t showing up here 😂)
Annie marries wealthy widow, Edward Stonehouse and is heading to Guardbridge, his estate on the Yorkshire moors. She hopes for a fresh start, a chance she grabs to lay the past to rest. There, waiting to greet them, is Edward‘s sister, Iris, who later confesses to Annie that she is a psychic and medium. She invites her to attend her monthly séances which always coincide with a full moon. What does the black feather that seems to have attached itself to Annie’s dress portend? Is it a harbinger of doom or just a feather?
What could be better for creating the perfect atmosphere for a Gothic mystery in a large, somewhat dilapidated and spooky house on the Yorkshire moors? It’s a match made in… well, not exactly heaven, but the moors often have an eerie, isolated, ominous and looming presence with accompanying wild weather to add an extra layer to the storytelling, if indeed you need it! The house exudes an atmosphere all of its own, it’s vast, it creaks, in places it’s damaged, it’s cold, and does it have ghostly presences of previous occupants? As soon as Annie steps into it, she feels an unease which grows increasingly ominous in tone. It feels secretive and at times malevolent, on occasions the atmosphere strays into the scary and macabre, with tension and suspense, and on a couple of occasions, there are some jaw dropping revelations. The mystery that surrounds both Annie herself, and those that precede her at Guardbridge, grows in intensity. Who or what should Annie fear? Wherein lies the deceit? Who can she trust as the plot builds and the depth of betrayal is revealed?
The characterisation is very good as several characters are puzzling enigmas, especially Edward Stonehouse. Iris is fascinating, she is very likeable but strange and you wonder at the source of her odd behaviour. Annie’s past emerges a bit at a time so you grow to comprehend why she holds so much back and her fascination for Edward’s first wife is very understandable.
This is a good Gothic mystery with the author capturing the 19th century originals in both tone and the way it is written. The pace is good throughout, and it keeps my attention until the end, desperate to glimpse the truth. When you do it all slots nicely into place.
Overall, this is another good read from a talented author who can is able to create a gripping Gothic mystery.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Annie marries wealthy widow, Edward Stonehouse and is heading to Guardbridge, his estate on the Yorkshire moors. She hopes for a fresh start, a chance she grabs to lay the past to rest. There, waiting to greet them, is Edward‘s sister, Iris, who later confesses to Annie that she is a psychic and medium. She invites her to attend her monthly séances which always coincide with a full moon. What does the black feather that seems to have attached itself to Annie’s dress portend? Is it a harbinger of doom or just a feather?
What could be better for creating the perfect atmosphere for a Gothic mystery in a large, somewhat dilapidated and spooky house on the Yorkshire moors? It’s a match made in… well, not exactly heaven, but the moors often have an eerie, isolated, ominous and looming presence with accompanying wild weather to add an extra layer to the storytelling, if indeed you need it! The house exudes an atmosphere all of its own, it’s vast, it creaks, in places it’s damaged, it’s cold, and does it have ghostly presences of previous occupants? As soon as Annie steps into it, she feels an unease which grows increasingly ominous in tone. It feels secretive and at times malevolent, on occasions the atmosphere strays into the scary and macabre, with tension and suspense, and on a couple of occasions, there are some jaw dropping revelations. The mystery that surrounds both Annie herself, and those that precede her at Guardbridge, grows in intensity. Who or what should Annie fear? Wherein lies the deceit? Who can she trust as the plot builds and the depth of betrayal is revealed?
The characterisation is very good as several characters are puzzling enigmas, especially Edward Stonehouse. Iris is fascinating, she is very likeable but strange and you wonder at the source of her odd behaviour. Annie’s past emerges a bit at a time so you grow to comprehend why she holds so much back and her fascination for Edward’s first wife is very understandable.
This is a good Gothic mystery with the author capturing the 19th century originals in both tone and the way it is written. The pace is good throughout, and it keeps my attention until the end, desperate to glimpse the truth. When you do it all slots nicely into place.
Overall, this is another good read from a talented author who can is able to create a gripping Gothic mystery.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 6, 2024
This is a Rebecca-esque gothic thriller, and I really enjoyed it.
I must admit, I wasn't really super invested in the first half of the book - but I really loved the resolution of the mystery! The ending was satisfying and Netley was really able to sell the ominous feel of being haunted. The gothic vibes in this were great (though, I wish it could have been a bit creepier).
Definitely an underhyped book that needs more love!
I must admit, I wasn't really super invested in the first half of the book - but I really loved the resolution of the mystery! The ending was satisfying and Netley was really able to sell the ominous feel of being haunted. The gothic vibes in this were great (though, I wish it could have been a bit creepier).
Definitely an underhyped book that needs more love!
October 19, 2025
Peak vibes but I have some picky issues with the storytelling/plot
November 29, 2023
This is as gothic as gothic can be bar a mad monk or headless horseman showing up. A large lonely house on the Yorkshire moors, an isolated heroine in peril, a brooding husband whose first wife and child died in mysterious circumstances. , Séances, ghosts....it's all there. Glorious. A good winter or Christmas read to snuggle down with.
July 21, 2025
This was such an original concept, quite unlike anything I’ve read before. And that’s saying a lot because I read a metric fuck ton! There were quite a few twists here, none of which I saw coming and that’s always the sign of a great story. My only minor complaint is I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
October 18, 2023
Discover the locations in the novel here
A novel to transport you to a haunting manor house in Yorkshire
This gave me vibes of Rebecca and Jane Eyre from the off so you can imagine my delight at the first page! The Black Feathers takes us to the remote and wild Yorkshire Moors and has names like Stonehouse and Guardbridge in the story so all the feels are there from the off. I had great expectations of this (incidentally one of the best moors scenes in fiction) and I was not disappointed.
The moors scenes in this novel were superb – vast, isolated and wild moors hiding all manner of secrets and ghosts. You feel the wind, the rain, the desolation and utter fear the characters have when going about their daily business.
Annie marries Edward Stonehouse and comes to live with him on the moors. They have a son but she knows that he has been married before. His late wife and a child handing out black feathers will be crucial to her understanding just what she has got herself involved in….
Honestly, from the start, this novel delivers. There’s a fog which descends as you read and some of the best characters I have met for a long time in a book – Edward is a strange one – her sister in law stranger still. And to think I have strange hobbies to some (crafting and maps), I have nothing on this woman!
The central mystery about the strange house, its past and the black feathers that portend something very sad indeed…..got me totally invested in every way possible. So much so, that as I was reading one day, it was raining and windy and a black feather floated past my window and got stuck in the gutter. Well, to say I nearly fell out of my chair is an understatement. This book gets in your head and frightens the bejesus out of you. I absolutely loved it!
Rebecca Netley does gothic and chilling tones very well indeed. It’s all so authentically chilling that she probably writes in a candlelit room with a black feather quill..
Highly recommended!
August 15, 2024
The Black Feathers - Rebecca Netley. I wasn’t blown away by this book. The plot and writing were solid but the pace was so slow. I think it was going for a creepy build up but I found myself getting a little bored.
I got appropriately creeped out and I did enjoy the characters but it needed to move faster and had it, it would have been the best book of the year hands down. 3.75 stars rounded to 4
I got appropriately creeped out and I did enjoy the characters but it needed to move faster and had it, it would have been the best book of the year hands down. 3.75 stars rounded to 4
January 7, 2025
Creepy, gothic house settings are always one of my favourite types of books to read and this was another of those I very much enjoyed.
This had everything you would want in a classic ghost story with lots of eerie elements to it, a haunted house set in the Yorkshire Moors, seances, stuffed animals that move on their own and shadows in the dark of something watching and also mysterious messages left around the house. There are many dark secrets about the house and its residents and a lot of tragic events.
The atmosphere feels quite claustrophobic and there is a feel of something evil lurking there. But is it the dead or something else? Annie, the new wife of Edward the owner of the gothic manor house needs to find out what is happening to save herself and her little boy. Is her husband to be trusted? His previous wife and child died in suspicious circumstances. . . However, Annie has secrets of her own she wants to stay hidden.
I was completely gripped with all the suspense and tension that kept building up as I turned the pages. It is the perfect book to pick up on a cold winter’s night. I will certainly be reading Rebeccas’s previous book The Whistling soon after loving this one!
This had everything you would want in a classic ghost story with lots of eerie elements to it, a haunted house set in the Yorkshire Moors, seances, stuffed animals that move on their own and shadows in the dark of something watching and also mysterious messages left around the house. There are many dark secrets about the house and its residents and a lot of tragic events.
The atmosphere feels quite claustrophobic and there is a feel of something evil lurking there. But is it the dead or something else? Annie, the new wife of Edward the owner of the gothic manor house needs to find out what is happening to save herself and her little boy. Is her husband to be trusted? His previous wife and child died in suspicious circumstances. . . However, Annie has secrets of her own she wants to stay hidden.
I was completely gripped with all the suspense and tension that kept building up as I turned the pages. It is the perfect book to pick up on a cold winter’s night. I will certainly be reading Rebeccas’s previous book The Whistling soon after loving this one!
March 5, 2024
Annie has recently married Edward Stonehouse. An escape and a new beginning, she thinks, as she arrives at her new family home, Guardbridge, an isolated residence on the Yorkshire moors. She is quickly introduced to Edward’s sister, Iris, who is welcoming and kind. She’s intriguing too, a medium and taxidermist. Yet Annie is not quite sure what to make of her when she talks of the spirits lingering around Guardbridge.
Then there is Edward’s first wife and son, what became of them? Annie soon begins to feel uneasy, there are messages and black feathers she cannot explain. Just what are the secrets of this house? Will they ever reveal themselves?
An absolutely glorious gothic thriller. Hugely atmospheric, I loved the image of this dark old house, laden with secrets, standing sentinel on the moors. There are some wonderfully compelling characters here too, who slowly reveal themself so the reader’s perceptions of them continuously change. Throw in a great plot and you have an all round winner here.
Dim the lights, cosy up and get stuck into this one, you won’t regret it for a second.
Then there is Edward’s first wife and son, what became of them? Annie soon begins to feel uneasy, there are messages and black feathers she cannot explain. Just what are the secrets of this house? Will they ever reveal themselves?
An absolutely glorious gothic thriller. Hugely atmospheric, I loved the image of this dark old house, laden with secrets, standing sentinel on the moors. There are some wonderfully compelling characters here too, who slowly reveal themself so the reader’s perceptions of them continuously change. Throw in a great plot and you have an all round winner here.
Dim the lights, cosy up and get stuck into this one, you won’t regret it for a second.
January 24, 2024
A black feather 🪶 is a gift from a dead child…
Annie is a newly wed and a new mother, her life should be full of joy, however as soon as they move to Edward’s ancestral home Guardbridge things seem wrong.
So, for me it feels as though Netley has literally made a tick list of every cliched gothic storyline and written it by numbers.
1. Creepy crumbling mansion in the winter
2. Recently widowed husband remarries naive younger woman
3. Ex-wife and son died in mysterious circumstances
4. Occult and taxidermy
5. Sister mental illness
6. Suicide and storms
7. Husband rejects wife who becomes crazy
8. Ghosts and babies
9. Death and fire
So clearly there are so many similarities here to Rebecca, and Jane Eyre it’s literally plagiarism.
I’m all for modern gothic, but try and be a little bit original 🙏 The Doll Factory was a good example of this, come on now… my year 10’s could have done better than this!
Annie is a newly wed and a new mother, her life should be full of joy, however as soon as they move to Edward’s ancestral home Guardbridge things seem wrong.
So, for me it feels as though Netley has literally made a tick list of every cliched gothic storyline and written it by numbers.
1. Creepy crumbling mansion in the winter
2. Recently widowed husband remarries naive younger woman
3. Ex-wife and son died in mysterious circumstances
4. Occult and taxidermy
5. Sister mental illness
6. Suicide and storms
7. Husband rejects wife who becomes crazy
8. Ghosts and babies
9. Death and fire
So clearly there are so many similarities here to Rebecca, and Jane Eyre it’s literally plagiarism.
I’m all for modern gothic, but try and be a little bit original 🙏 The Doll Factory was a good example of this, come on now… my year 10’s could have done better than this!
April 12, 2024
THE BLACK FEATHERS is the first book I have read by Rebecca Netley. I felt this was the perfect example of Gothic horror. The atmosphere, manor, and even the weather combine to give an oppressive feeling, not only to the characters, but one that I felt. Annie marries Edward to escape her own problems, and Edward is looking to replace his previous wife and son--who had died under mysterious circumstances. When Annie and their infant son move into Edward's family manor, things begin to escalate--bringing more questions/mysteries than Annie imagined possible.
Enter Edward's unmarried sister, Iris--a psychic and taxidermist--and her "nurse" Miss North.
The supernatural element is strong here, with everyone holding tight to their own secrets. There were more twists than I had anticipated--some I had guessed at, others that came out of nowhere.
Overall, I felt the characters were fleshed out well, and each held my attention as the story progressed. With the perfect atmosphere/backdrop, this story is a great example of Gothic literature.
Recommended.
Enter Edward's unmarried sister, Iris--a psychic and taxidermist--and her "nurse" Miss North.
The supernatural element is strong here, with everyone holding tight to their own secrets. There were more twists than I had anticipated--some I had guessed at, others that came out of nowhere.
Overall, I felt the characters were fleshed out well, and each held my attention as the story progressed. With the perfect atmosphere/backdrop, this story is a great example of Gothic literature.
Recommended.
September 18, 2025
4.0/5
A deliciously atmospheric, gothic haunting story. I read Netley’s The Whistling first and preferred that story a bit more. Netley is certainly a master of crafting lush, richly drawn settings and she’s on my automatic buy list now,
*update*
I appreciate when a novel teaches me new things and expands my vocabulary. In this case, it was with the Victorian term “antimacassar” which I’d never heard used before. Since reading Black Feathers it’s been used in several other books that take place during the same period. Antimacassars are protective fabric coverings commonly used over furniture. When I have to look a word up, it usually sticks with me and this is a fun one.
A deliciously atmospheric, gothic haunting story. I read Netley’s The Whistling first and preferred that story a bit more. Netley is certainly a master of crafting lush, richly drawn settings and she’s on my automatic buy list now,
*update*
I appreciate when a novel teaches me new things and expands my vocabulary. In this case, it was with the Victorian term “antimacassar” which I’d never heard used before. Since reading Black Feathers it’s been used in several other books that take place during the same period. Antimacassars are protective fabric coverings commonly used over furniture. When I have to look a word up, it usually sticks with me and this is a fun one.
July 15, 2025
✨️Very atmospheric and ghostly. Taking place across the Yorkshire moors set in deep Victorian times,Guardbridge brings a touch of gothic gloom and ghostly appiritions. For me, nothing really happened, we found out secrets kept well hidden, but there there was something slightly missing ? A more thrilling ending ? A ghostly villain? An easy read, I enjoyed the ghostly atmosphere of an old victorian mansion, but it lacked substance for me.
👻🔮🖋⛈️
👻🔮🖋⛈️
October 9, 2025
3.5⭐️
November 22, 2023
I really enjoyed Netley's debut The Whistling last year and her second novel seemed even more up my street: set in the Victorian times and I knew there would be ghosts! The Black Feathers is well written but overall the story is just OK. Although Netley tried to do something new with the popular tropes, I found it very formulaic and it lacked the spooky, gothic atmosphere for my liking. The characters were fine, though Annie's/the protagonist's husband conveniently kept going away all the time for no reason other than to let Annie be on her own and so that he was not in the way of the plot.
Lots of lies and mysteries we encounter in the novel get suddenly and quickly - too quickly - wrapped up in the last few chapters. There's a lot of it all at once it kind of doesn't make an impact the author might've intended? Also, though I usually don't have issue with this, it's worth flagging child loss as a trigger because even for me it was a bit grim. I'd be definitely interested to see what Rebecca Netley writes next but hopefully it's something more original and memorable than The Black Feathers (the writing was very good though!!).
Lots of lies and mysteries we encounter in the novel get suddenly and quickly - too quickly - wrapped up in the last few chapters. There's a lot of it all at once it kind of doesn't make an impact the author might've intended? Also, though I usually don't have issue with this, it's worth flagging child loss as a trigger because even for me it was a bit grim. I'd be definitely interested to see what Rebecca Netley writes next but hopefully it's something more original and memorable than The Black Feathers (the writing was very good though!!).
June 15, 2024
Another gorgeous gothic story from Rebecca Netley.
The Black Feathers is drenched in gothic eeriness and has such a pervasive sense of dread that steadily creeps up. We are introduced to the estate of Guardbridge and immediately it becomes evident that family secrets abound and things are not as they first seem.
Guardbridge is the perfect setting for the creepy tale to take place and added such a sense of spookiness.
I couldn’t put this down until the end and pretty much binged it in a day. The twist at the end is perfection!
I feel this will give some readers a similar feeling to that of Rebecca so if you enjoyed that incredible modern classic I highly recommend you pick up the Black Feathers.
This was the May/June read for the Gothic Ghouls bookclub.
The Black Feathers is drenched in gothic eeriness and has such a pervasive sense of dread that steadily creeps up. We are introduced to the estate of Guardbridge and immediately it becomes evident that family secrets abound and things are not as they first seem.
Guardbridge is the perfect setting for the creepy tale to take place and added such a sense of spookiness.
I couldn’t put this down until the end and pretty much binged it in a day. The twist at the end is perfection!
I feel this will give some readers a similar feeling to that of Rebecca so if you enjoyed that incredible modern classic I highly recommend you pick up the Black Feathers.
This was the May/June read for the Gothic Ghouls bookclub.
October 31, 2023
Spooky, unsettling and with strong Rebecca vibes. I read this very quickly, short chapters and creepy moments that left you hanging.
A bit predictable and the characters didn't feel real, but still had a fun Halloween read.
Triggers- there is child loss, suicide and murder. A heartfelt and sad penultimate chapter that partially concludes the emotional suffering of Annie.
A bit predictable and the characters didn't feel real, but still had a fun Halloween read.
Triggers- there is child loss, suicide and murder. A heartfelt and sad penultimate chapter that partially concludes the emotional suffering of Annie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2025
Poorly written YA-esque distortion of a wonderful genre. Don't bother
June 19, 2025
➺
3/5🌟
I was not sold the first half of the book. It took me quite a while than I should have just to get through 100 pages. The creepy, ghostly vibe is there but it's not getting to me. The feeling that something might be lurking in the dark was well describe but somehow, I just couldn't feel the eeriness I should have felt. The mystery is also there, and I can feel the many layers to it, but it's not until around 60% of the story that my curiosity really started to take root. From that point on, it was hard to put the book down and I devoured the last 100 pages in a snap.
The protagonist sometimes narrated in a way the confuses me but I know it was on purpose and it added to the disorientation inside her head. Also, I appreciate the way it ended. It was full of grief for the characters but it also left them in a path of hope and the possibility that they will eventually heal from their own emotional scars.
I just feel like the horror part, which was clearly a big part of the plot, isn't as effective as I would have hoped it would be. It was a subjective view though, because I've seen that other readers were satisfied with the eerie atmosphere. I swear I thought I would give this 2 stars but the last part where I binged it in one sitting bumped up a star for me.
I was not sold the first half of the book. It took me quite a while than I should have just to get through 100 pages. The creepy, ghostly vibe is there but it's not getting to me. The feeling that something might be lurking in the dark was well describe but somehow, I just couldn't feel the eeriness I should have felt. The mystery is also there, and I can feel the many layers to it, but it's not until around 60% of the story that my curiosity really started to take root. From that point on, it was hard to put the book down and I devoured the last 100 pages in a snap.
The protagonist sometimes narrated in a way the confuses me but I know it was on purpose and it added to the disorientation inside her head. Also, I appreciate the way it ended. It was full of grief for the characters but it also left them in a path of hope and the possibility that they will eventually heal from their own emotional scars.
I just feel like the horror part, which was clearly a big part of the plot, isn't as effective as I would have hoped it would be. It was a subjective view though, because I've seen that other readers were satisfied with the eerie atmosphere. I swear I thought I would give this 2 stars but the last part where I binged it in one sitting bumped up a star for me.
October 5, 2023
A hauntingly beautiful, classic ghost story with a deliciously gothic, haunted house setting.
After a chance encounter, Annie is swept up into a marriage of privilege and wealth. Living with her gentle husband at the Guardbridge mansion is idllyic but Annie holds secrets she fears would undo her fortune if they are unravelled. She struggles to settle in a house overshadowed by a previous wife and her secrets are threatened by a resident sister in law involved in séances, who claims a talent in clairvoyance.
This was a chilling ghost story full of suspense. Seances, stuffed animals that seem to move of their own accord, black feathers said to have been left by souls taken too soon and untrustworthy characters. My sympathies continued to change throughout the book as the slow burning twists evolved. The atmosphere was fraught with malevolence and the startling imagery made for an unsettling yet captivating read.
This one is for fans of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca who like an extra slice of gothic horror. I loved The Whistling by the same author and The Black Feathers is another gothic masterpiece.
After a chance encounter, Annie is swept up into a marriage of privilege and wealth. Living with her gentle husband at the Guardbridge mansion is idllyic but Annie holds secrets she fears would undo her fortune if they are unravelled. She struggles to settle in a house overshadowed by a previous wife and her secrets are threatened by a resident sister in law involved in séances, who claims a talent in clairvoyance.
This was a chilling ghost story full of suspense. Seances, stuffed animals that seem to move of their own accord, black feathers said to have been left by souls taken too soon and untrustworthy characters. My sympathies continued to change throughout the book as the slow burning twists evolved. The atmosphere was fraught with malevolence and the startling imagery made for an unsettling yet captivating read.
This one is for fans of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca who like an extra slice of gothic horror. I loved The Whistling by the same author and The Black Feathers is another gothic masterpiece.
December 22, 2024
Holy fucking SHIT, I'm so pissed off that my potential last full book of the year was this absolute and utter garbage.
Nancy Drew novels have more edge than this, fuck, SCOOBY DOO has more edge than this. And the whole while I tried to give it a chance with 'mayhaps he would love me inasmuch as his countenance"... Stop.
I keep saying this, and maybe this is my doing. Historical fiction doesn't do it for me, especially when the narrative is told in the same style as the spoken word was at that time. But this was a whole new level.
There are changing POVs, which aren't indicated and are only apparent from "she" to "I" and take you about 5 pages to realize who's speaking because they bring up the other character. Did the author use AI with the prompt "write the following in an old timely voice", and I only ask because half the time it didn't make sense. Also the whole idea of who Annie is addressing isn't really addressed until well into the first 2 chapter, why are you talking to a random reader (because that's how it reads)?
All in all this was an absolutely horrendous waste of time and money and how this has close to 4 stars baffles me.
I'll save you the trouble, it was the weirdly over protective night nurse that a woman in her 30s still retains, and *gasp* she did it out of love because she was the strange 30 year old shut in sister in law's unknown mother.
I'm so upset I stayed up this late hoping something better would come of this.
Rebecca Netley, you owe me $25.99 + tax, and approximately 40 hours at a minimum rage rate of $40/hour. Yes I meant rage.
Nancy Drew novels have more edge than this, fuck, SCOOBY DOO has more edge than this. And the whole while I tried to give it a chance with 'mayhaps he would love me inasmuch as his countenance"... Stop.
I keep saying this, and maybe this is my doing. Historical fiction doesn't do it for me, especially when the narrative is told in the same style as the spoken word was at that time. But this was a whole new level.
There are changing POVs, which aren't indicated and are only apparent from "she" to "I" and take you about 5 pages to realize who's speaking because they bring up the other character. Did the author use AI with the prompt "write the following in an old timely voice", and I only ask because half the time it didn't make sense. Also the whole idea of who Annie is addressing isn't really addressed until well into the first 2 chapter, why are you talking to a random reader (because that's how it reads)?
All in all this was an absolutely horrendous waste of time and money and how this has close to 4 stars baffles me.
I'll save you the trouble, it was the weirdly over protective night nurse that a woman in her 30s still retains, and *gasp* she did it out of love because she was the strange 30 year old shut in sister in law's unknown mother.
I'm so upset I stayed up this late hoping something better would come of this.
Rebecca Netley, you owe me $25.99 + tax, and approximately 40 hours at a minimum rage rate of $40/hour. Yes I meant rage.
October 24, 2023
Annie goes to live in a sprawling old house set in the Yorkshire Moors. Edward her husband is a widower and lives also with his sister Iris who is a medium. Annie and Iris become friends but both women have their own secrets.
I quite enjoy this genre, rambling old house, family secrets and ghostly goings on. I did enjoy this book but I did feel that their are plenty of books out there very similar and I've read a lot of them.
The story certainly had atmosphere and I loved the setting. Lots of spooky goings on as the family secrets are eventually revealed. I did feel this story had Rebecca, and Bronte vibes which is not a bad thing.
I wouldn't say this book was scary but it did have some chilling moments. I'm not easily scared though when reading but more likely to jump when visual.
I think I would have appreciated this book a little bit more had I have not been unwell. Due to my health I could only read for a few pages at a time so couldn't fully immerse myself into the story.
As I enjoyed the book I would read more by the author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the book to review.
I quite enjoy this genre, rambling old house, family secrets and ghostly goings on. I did enjoy this book but I did feel that their are plenty of books out there very similar and I've read a lot of them.
The story certainly had atmosphere and I loved the setting. Lots of spooky goings on as the family secrets are eventually revealed. I did feel this story had Rebecca, and Bronte vibes which is not a bad thing.
I wouldn't say this book was scary but it did have some chilling moments. I'm not easily scared though when reading but more likely to jump when visual.
I think I would have appreciated this book a little bit more had I have not been unwell. Due to my health I could only read for a few pages at a time so couldn't fully immerse myself into the story.
As I enjoyed the book I would read more by the author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the book to review.
March 24, 2024
Ridiculously compelling. Essentially a mash-up of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, but with actual ghosts, not just the spectres of buried secrets (but also plenty of those.) I did spot every single plot twist, but I think that's honestly just because I was super engaged with the narrative and was actively desperate to work out what was going on, rather than because the twists were obvious. Loved it, 100/10, will probably reread very soon.
October 9, 2023
After reading and loving The Whistling by Rebecca Netley recently, I was so excited to read her latest, The Black Feathers.
And that's because Netley writes the most beautiful stories. From the very beginning, The Black Feathers was so easy to get into and feel comfortable with the setting and characters. It's rare when an author can so effortlessly lure you into a story, but Netley says all the right things to hook you from the start.
Set in the Yorkshire Moors in the 1800s, there's a lot of beautifully described atmosphere. When you read a book set in the Moors, you want to feel the cold, harsh rain whenever the characters step foot outside, and you can certainly feel that here. The 1800s setting also adds a lot more eeriness to the story, with a strong presence of the empty, cold house, and the the typical standoffish conflicts between Annie and some of the staff adding more tension.
What I loved so much about The Whistling was that it wasn't scary, but very subtly chilling instead with a lot of emotional context to the hauntings going on, and that's what we get with The Black Feathers too.
But while the story is quite similar to The Whistling - there's a prominent spooky building surrounded by beautiful landscape, and the sorrow in the house centres [mostly] around young characters - the story also takes you on a very different journey at the same time.
Really, the similarities come from the emotions that Netley's stories provoke, and that's what I love so much about them. I find emotional twists and a strong gothic atmosphere much more effective when it comes to ghost stories, and Netley accomplishes these qualities perfectly. So if you're looking for a ghost story this spooky season with depth instead of scares, this is the perfect one to pick.
And that's because Netley writes the most beautiful stories. From the very beginning, The Black Feathers was so easy to get into and feel comfortable with the setting and characters. It's rare when an author can so effortlessly lure you into a story, but Netley says all the right things to hook you from the start.
Set in the Yorkshire Moors in the 1800s, there's a lot of beautifully described atmosphere. When you read a book set in the Moors, you want to feel the cold, harsh rain whenever the characters step foot outside, and you can certainly feel that here. The 1800s setting also adds a lot more eeriness to the story, with a strong presence of the empty, cold house, and the the typical standoffish conflicts between Annie and some of the staff adding more tension.
What I loved so much about The Whistling was that it wasn't scary, but very subtly chilling instead with a lot of emotional context to the hauntings going on, and that's what we get with The Black Feathers too.
But while the story is quite similar to The Whistling - there's a prominent spooky building surrounded by beautiful landscape, and the sorrow in the house centres [mostly] around young characters - the story also takes you on a very different journey at the same time.
Really, the similarities come from the emotions that Netley's stories provoke, and that's what I love so much about them. I find emotional twists and a strong gothic atmosphere much more effective when it comes to ghost stories, and Netley accomplishes these qualities perfectly. So if you're looking for a ghost story this spooky season with depth instead of scares, this is the perfect one to pick.
October 20, 2024
This book is a fantastic example of a gothic thriller, it genuinely scared the hell out of me.
It’s so atmospheric and truly eerie, to the point where I could only read it during daylight 😂 it creeped me out so much that I just don’t think that genre is for me, but if you love period style gothic thrillers you’ll love this!
It’s so atmospheric and truly eerie, to the point where I could only read it during daylight 😂 it creeped me out so much that I just don’t think that genre is for me, but if you love period style gothic thrillers you’ll love this!
October 26, 2024
Loved this! Spooky atmosphere.. perfect for this time of year 😊
November 11, 2024
Wasn’t obsessed with this like I thought I’d be. I loved the dark and gothic atmosphere but felt the storyline was lacking. It didn’t hold my attention and it felt predictable.
April 9, 2025
(3.4✨) Fun!! Decent read but is there a thing of too many twists? Idk some stuff just didn’t make sense BUT THE ENDDD nah my mouth dropped open in sorrow
May 4, 2025
4.5 stars
A beautifully written, eerie and emotional gothic tale that kept me gripped throughout. The ending in particular made me tear up which I rarely do with books.
The characters are well developed and nuanced and while I did guess the antagonist of the story fairly early, it didn’t really affect my enjoyment of it.
This has definitely cemented Rebecca Netley as an insta-read author for me; she’s a fantastic gothic writer.
A beautifully written, eerie and emotional gothic tale that kept me gripped throughout. The ending in particular made me tear up which I rarely do with books.
The characters are well developed and nuanced and while I did guess the antagonist of the story fairly early, it didn’t really affect my enjoyment of it.
This has definitely cemented Rebecca Netley as an insta-read author for me; she’s a fantastic gothic writer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews