A Dark Inheritance follows Felix as he navigates a curse that has killed three of his brothers on their 18th birthdays and now threatens him. He uncovers his father's involvement in death magic and a secret society that intends to harness death magic.

This book is fine, I think some will really enjoy it. It's relatively fast-paced and did not feel bogged down anywhere, and the writing is fine. However for me it was a bit bland and lacking in something that would have made it a truly gripping read. The characters, descriptions and everything were just a bit flat.

There were also a couple of times when I was confused by the characters reactions to things - although I appreciated the depiction of Felix's panic disorder, it was much more of a focus of the earlier part of the book and as it went on and the plot got more complex, it seemed pushed to the sidelines and forgotten about. It also seemed like his motivations were muddled, there were a lot of times towards the end when he thought about his lack of choice and his imminent death but barely remembered that his purpose was also to save his brother's life as well.

Overall this was an okay read, but if it had been longer or slower paced I would have DNF'd it.

<b>Content warnings:</b>
Anxiety disorder & panic attacks (on page, graphic description), death of a sibling (on page, graphic description), death of a parent (on page, graphic description), violent death (on page, graphic description), grief, death by car accident (on page, graphic description), injury detail (on page, graphic description), mentions of war/death

Not gonna lie this book needs proper content warnings - the author's note mentions depictions of extreme anxiety but doesn't mention any other graphic content. For a YA book the publisher needs to do better.

I loved this book so much. It’s very dark in a delightful way. I liked books that use first person narrators as this can be a powerful form of storytelling and is certainly the case here. I enjoyed seeing events through Felix’s eyes as he unravels his families darkest secrets. This is well-written and engaging. I didn’t want to stop reading every time I picked it up. This is a terrific book.

Thank you Penguin and the author for my eARC.

I enjoyed the readability of this book, it kept my attention throughout and I enjoyed the character development.
I did however find some of the plots ending in loose ends and a lot of almost piggybacking from other authors (Agatha Christie looking at you). The magic system was intriguing and I really related to the discussion of anxiety.
Overall a good read that could’ve done with some expanding but I would recommend!

I was sent a copy of A Dark Inheritance by H. F. Askwith to read and review by NetGalley. I really enjoyed reading this novel, it had a great cast of characters, a good solid story and of course, a twist of magic! I also liked the fact that it was set in 1920 with all the connotations that the era brought. The book is narrated by protagonist Felix, which I felt worked really well, with the story moving swiftly on through the 30 days that he seemingly had left to live with lots of thrilling episodes along the way. Listed as children’s fiction, I feel that it will engage children and adults alike. I certainly think it is well worth reading and enjoying!

Felix has seen all three of his older brothers die in horrifying circumstances on their eighteenth birthdays. In thirty days, it will be his turn. Unless he can break the mysterious curse cast over his family’s immense wealth...

A Dark Inheritance is a fantastic mystery novel for teenage readers. Set in the prohibition era of New York, with jazz music playing in the background, it is a story full of mysteries and action. It does not need to be compared with popular novels, like Ninth House or even The Great Gatsby, as it has little to do with those titles. It is a fascinating story in its own right. The characters are vivid and likeable, the pace is fast, and many secrets and riddles keep the reader involved in the story. What else could we need?

Dark and gripping read! Really kept me glued to my seat.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

‘A Dark Inheritance’ by H. F. Askwith is a problematic debut that apes or emulates (depending on how forgiving the reader is) Agatha Christie’s ‘The Lemesurier Inheritance’. I am not an admirer of debut authors who piggyback on either the plots or the merits of previous works of distinction, but perhaps other readers will not mind.

The novel pointedly exploits the contextual shorthand of comparisons to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ in place of labour on Askwith’s part as an author. The cover design signals the branding of Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 Gatsby adaptation, and Askwith goes as far as to name two of her characters Scott and Nick. So forcefully calling to mind F. Scott Fitzgerald would suggest a lack of faith in the author on the part of Askwith’s publisher, invoking ‘The Great Gatsby’ in every promotional outlet that mentions ‘A Dark Inheritance’.

Establishing Gatsby’s backdrop as the setting for this novel naively saves the author from having to invest energy, technique, or effort in her own world-building. Sadly, this shortcut means that the vital ‘honeymoon period’ when the author has the opportunity to make connections with her reader by introducing them to her world – a world made unique by this author’s vision – is also skipped over. This is the period for the author to woo and astonish her reader with her style, her linguistic flourishes; her flair. And none of this happens in ‘A Dark Inheritance’.

In place of this, what I got was a platform for Askwith’s discourse on anxiety as a mental health issue, and a peculiarly didactic discourse at that. To the detriment of the narrative, passages are given over to increasingly wilder descriptions of the protagonist’s symptoms of anxiety, which I found a frustrating obstacle (whatever my own experience of mental illness) to the unfolding of plot. I spent a not insignificant amount of time wondering when the story would start. At times it was like reading non-fiction, since the tone of such passages is quite preachy. There is here the prospect of raising an investigation into the experience of poor mental health in the 1920s as paralleled by contemporary understanding; the chance to engage in sensitive exploration of the issue, but ‘A Dark Inheritance’ comes to read as an arbitrary vehicle for wholly anachronistic preachifying on our modern comprehension of anxiety. Askwith seems to assume that her reader will have no individual knowledge or experience of the issue, and so it is very heavy-handedly done.

However, the principal trouble here is that this is just bad writing. Askwith's writing is characterised by a relentless bombardment with mixed similes and strained metaphors, in a caricature of subtler linguistic techniques. Here’s one such jumbled excerpt from the start of the novel (I stopped taking notes when it became clear that the writing was not going to improve):

‘When I regained consciousness, I had been placed in the sunroom, a parlour at the back of the house with large glass panes looking out on to the riotous colour of a wildflower garden. Two large mirrors hung at angles reflected the garden view and encouraged the light to flutter around like a caged bird. Mother crouched in front of me, flapping like a moth. In her panic, her dress had been hitched up above her knees, the gunmetal satin puddling. She brought her face very close to mine, studying my eyes like a particularly eager lepidopterist inspecting a butterfly that might vanish. [...] My throat was dry and my head was thumping and there was thick crusted blood around my nose and on the side of my head. The intricate beading on the chaise longue dug into me. I pulled myself into a sitting position and my stomach swirled. Just past mother, my tutor Geoffrey stood, coming into focus like a photograph. As if he could read my mind, he reached for a glass of water and held it to my lips. I gulped greedily, as though I’d been lost in a desert.’

Some of the turns of phrase are bizarre, and at times Askwith is heartlessly abrupt and insensitive toward her characters. Often, it seems like the author has forgotten what age her narrator is – 17 or 70? The first-person narrative did not serve this novel well as a style choice.

Utimately, though, my biggest qualm is that it shouldn’t be the pinnacle of an author’s biography that they received a Distinction in their Creative Writing MA; it need not even be noted. It’s like the GP’s receptionist informing you that your doctor has studied medicine. To my mind, the writing itself should speak of its own calibre. I shouldn’t need to be told that I’ll be impressed by this writing. Again, it’s as though the publisher has little faith in the novel, or – even worse – is dismissive of any judgement that differs. I find it galling for my own reading faculty to be so undermined.

(Excerpt cited from a digital ARC and might differ from the published copy.)

My thanks go to Penguin Random House Children’s UK for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

I really quite liked this book, though I admit I definitely skimmed the last few pages in order to finish it right before the New Year.
The concept was fantastic, and had me intrigued until the end. I definitely think it changed my brain chemistry / my point of view of death in general.

I can't help but think this book wasn't marketed correctly. I didn't really see this as a mix between either The Inheritance Games or The Great Gatsby.
I also thought this book felt a lot like the Dark Academia genre. It definitely had those vibes.

What I disliked was the lack of engagement during the last half of the book. I wasn't really tuned into the characters or the story, and it just felt like things were happening. There was also quite a lot of prose that seemed unnecessary to me, but each time there was any prose, it was short / kept to a single page which helped the tediousness of it.

'A Dark Inheritance' is pitched as 'The Great Gatsby' meets 'The Inheritance Games' which is the reason I picked this book up and the starting premise is brilliant - Felix's family is cursed and all three of his elder brothers died on their eighteenth birthdays so Felix knows that he only has one month left to live. And this has left him feeling a little anxious, as you can imagine, and suffering from panic attacks. His mother and his best friend want him to see a psychiatrist to discuss his issues, but this doesn't solve the underlying problem - his imminent death.

There are two strands to the story - the original curse that Felix's father unwittingly released when he used death magic to secure his family's prosperity, and the shadowy death magic organisation who are trying to harness the death magic for their own ends. Felix must race to England to find the original founder of the organisation, to see if he can help him to lift the curse, while also avoiding the current members of the organisation. All while on a hard deadline - his 18th birthday and inevitable death.

It's a fun concept and an imaginative world, but for a book with such a prominent countdown, I felt it could have been a little more gripping. And I found aims of the death magic organisation a little confusing. But generally, an atmospheric and entertaining read.

Review in exchange for netgalley e-arc

I really enjoyed this book! It felt like the inheritance games meets they both die at the end meets the great gatsby. It was fast paced and whenever there’s a book set in the 1920s, there’s already a chance I’m going to love it. The fast paced story with plot twists and a nice easy language style meant I flew through it. Is this book life changing, groundbreaking or anything starkly new? No. But I enjoyed it and that’s the main thing!

Pitch me a mystery combined with Gatsby vibes, Jazz Age New York, a touch of the fantastical and slick, sharp writing – I will always eat it up. A Dark Inheritance is a superb debut novel that you should definitely have on your radar.

This is one wild ride of a book and I loved every exhilarating second.

Felix is a fantastic protagonist. He is deeply impacted by the deaths of his brothers and the absence of his father. This emotionally manifests in severe anxiety, which is only intensified by the events of the book. Askwith has a strong focus on the importance of talking, listening and seeking help. That positive representation is so impactful and good to see. Felix’s vulnerability endeared me to him, as well as his puzzle-solving ability and tenacity. He wants to break the curse in order to protect his younger brother and will go to any lengths to achieve this. Also, in his character, there is a fascinating study of privilege, wealth and the true cost of success.

This is a book unafraid to go into some dark territory. Right from the gory opening, I was hooked. Askwith does not hold back with the tragic demises of Felix’s brothers and keeps you on your toes throughout. The pacing is perfect, creating a thrill ride across the Yorkshire Moors and the sinister underbelly of Jazz Age New York. It feels incredibly cinematic and ambitious in its scope. There are plenty of curveballs thrown though, particularly the secret society that emerges from the shadows. The fantasy elements are well-executed and I adored the macabre nature of the magic system.

A Dark Inheritance strips away the glitz and glamour in a blood soaked, devious little treasure of a book.

It took quite a while for me to get into this book and even when I did I found it a bit hard going. I'm not sure that I read the blurb properly when it came on Netgalley because I wasn't really expecting the turn it takes but as an ex school librarian I do read quite a lot of YA books. Part science fiction, part black magic with very young protagonists. The plot moves along very quickly which is what kept me reading and it's quite short. If not for that I'm not sure I would have finished it. It reminded me a little of Dennis Wheatley's black magic books, which I read many years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed those at the time but that may have been my age, I'd need to reread them. It isn't a genre I would normally choose now.
That said, I can see why YA would enjoy it. It's pure escapism and the main character is likeable. The plot, whilst fantastical, is quite well constructed but there is a lack of depth. My younger self would probably have lapped it up!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Firstly, thank you to Penguin Random House Children's Publisher and Netgalley for the arc of A Dark Inheritance by H.F.Askwith in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This fast paced, historical, fantasy adventure is set in New York in 1920. It focused on the protagonist Felix’s, the fourth son of five, whose growing anxiety as his 18th birthday approaches is driven by his 3 elder brothers having died terribly on theirs. Felix lives a life of fear, with no idea which route to take until 1 month before his birthday. Suddenly, his mother announces that his father is returning home from the sanatorium he has been recuperating at after he’d been terribly wounded fighting in World War I. Felix finds himself plunged into events beyond his imagination as he fights to prevent himself and his younger brother Nick from befalling the same cursed fate as their elder brothers.

This book throws a concentrated and powerful punch, set in the US during prohibition and England following WWI. It captures the locations, the era, the fantasy elements of death magic and combines them with mystery, cryptology and fledgling romance to deliver a fast paced, action packed story that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Tjere is no doubt at all about the dark and macabre nature of the magic system created in this book. It was macabre, it unveiled throughout the story really well as Felix learns more about the curse on his family, how it came about, and the story itself. The tense atmosphere and anxiety pulsate throughout, and it definitely does not shy away from the challenges posed by anxiety on mental health and well being. The author is very transparent in their view that alongside the darkness, there is always the light of hope, and that truly shines through…to say more would spoil the plot for you.

If you are looking for a concise, fast paced fantasy, mystery that will transport you to the 1920s, you should definitely pick this book up.

I read this as an E-Arc on net galley.
This story is fast paced from the beginning. I really enjoyed the characters and the mystery in the story line. The writing style and details of the setting plunged me into the 1920s.
It would have been a 5-star for me, however, the ending felt quite rushed. A lot happened in the last few chapters and I would have loved if that was more detailed.

A very interesting read! Perfect for fans or dark academia. I found this to be fast-paced and I couldn’t put it down!

I'm rather torn over this book. On the one hand, I really liked it for its readability and I got on well with the characters, but on the other hand it was so fast paced I lost the threads of plot a couple times.

I enjoyed many aspects of this book, starting with the content warnings at the very beginning. I really appreciate the author for warning us as readers about the subject of intense anxiety present in the book; it very much helped prepare me for the journey.

Felix is a great main character. Being in his head felt very familiar. He's doing his best without any real answers and is just trying to keep it all together. The realistic exploration of anxiety and the way it influenced Felix's thoughts and actions really clicked with me and I saw myself in him. I adored his relationship with his younger brother, Nick, too. It was very sweet the way he looked after him. His relationship with his best friend Lois took longer to grow on me. At first she annoyed me but I felt she got a bit more understanding as the book went on and by the end I was rooting for them both.

The overarching mystery was nicely done. I was surprised at how dark and graphic it got. I wish it could've been a slower sort of mystery but I was surprised at what was really going on, barring one specific person which I guessed from the vibes I was getting from them and then promptly second guessed myself. I've seen a similar sort of magic system in a book before, and it was no less horrifying here than it was there, which was very fun and added to the tension.

I'm going to put this next bit rather bluntly. The book was too short for all that happened, and I say this with the certainty that I felt when I thought it was trying to set up a series and had to check twice from my disbelief that it wasn't. I understand that a time limit builds tension, but approximately 25% from the end I realised that there wouldn't be enough time for the next arc to happen. The ending felt rushed and I had to read the last few chapters twice because I missed what happened. If this book were even 100 pages longer or perhaps split into 2 books with enough time devoted to each section, I would have probably felt more satisfied. That being said, I did find the waiting unbearable despite how fast the book went, so it didn't do too badly in that regard.

To end on a more positive note, while I was reading I found myself on several occasions wishing I could watch it as a movie. The descriptions and the way everything was set out really had me imagining it as if it were already a movie.

Too graphic and violent in its descriptions for my liking. Had to put it down and not continue unfortunately

Interesting premise, good dark atmosphere but a bit overblown for my taste. Lots of potential but I didn't really engage with the characters, and I found it a bit less creepy than I was expecting.

I enjoyed the story and characters; Violet's twist was a big surprise I did not see coming. The 1920s New York setting was very well described and helped you imagine what it was like at that time. The only negative was that I found all the talk about Felix's anxiety issues very distracting from the story, a sense of anxiety was not really conveyed, and they held the plot up which was quite slow at times

Thank you, Net Galley and Penguin, for my ARC copy of this book to review

This story is told by Felix, oldest surviving son of a self made billionaire. Having seen his three older brothers die on their 18th birthday, Felix is understandably terrified as his own 18th draws closer. When his father returns belatedly from World War One, unable to speak and a shadow of the man he used to be, Felix doesn't really want to interact with the man, but it seems his father has one last secret to give him, one that will help unlock the curse that hovers over the family.
Set in 1920 there are some nice historical details in this story: the cars that Felix drives, the impressive house his family has, the cross Atlantic ship he takes to get to England, the speakeasy and underside of New York city.
The mystery is gradually revealed as Felix's days are counted down to his birthday. I have to say I wasn't quite convinced by the secret society but I was invested enough in the characters to go along and want to find our what was happening. The pacing was good and the plot gave a satisfying ending.
With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an arc copy in return for an honest review.