A Dark Inheritance by H. F. Askwith: A Review

This week I’m writing about a wonderfully gothic novel ‘A Dark Inheritance’ by H.F. Askwith. I picked up this book by chance at the Waterstones Bookfest in Piccadilly this August and was delighted to actually have a quick conversation with the lovely author herself. I think what interested me most about the book was the idea of the golden thread of hope and how even in the darkness of life there is always a way out; sometimes you just have to have the right people with you to find it.

This book is wonderfully written and follows the story of Felix Ashe a young boy who only seems to know one thing. That he will die on his sixteenth birthday in 30 days just like his 3 older brothers. In a journey of self-discovery and learning how to live, Felix must embrace his time and attempt to break the dark curse that grips his family.

This book is beautiful in so many ways. It is a stunning story that delves into the less-talked-about topics like grief and anxiety and demonstrates the beauty there is in both fear and hope. It was a completely captivating read that had me staying up late with a mug of hot chocolate to try and finish to book.

The book is told completely through Felix’s perspective and we get to watch as he learns how to deal with all his emotions and his growth as a character is something that is so fully fleshed out. I also really enjoyed the language used to describe the depth of the emotions Felix goes through and I found it oddly cathartic to read as someone who has had anxiety for a few years now. 

The plot was well written too and I really enjoyed the characters of Violet and Lois too. I really did not expect the book to take the path it did but it was very enjoyable. My one ick is that there is not much of a stopping point as the action just kind of sputters out and we don’t get to see how Violet’s story ends. I would love to see more from Askwith and am very excited to preorder ‘A Cruel Twist of Fate’.

I would just note that you read the author's note at the beginning of the book as it does touch on a few darker topics but I totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a gothic, historical, fantasy read.

Happy Reading,

- Mei xxx