The Widow: A Dark Romantic Fantasy by Naomi Valkyrie & Rebecca E. McEwen – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

The Widow: A Dark Romantic Fantasy by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Widow is an enticing romantic novel by Naomi Valkyrie and Rebecca E. McEwen. In it, we meet the beautiful and mysterious widow Vashti Paladin and gradually learn her secrets as she befriends students Absalom and Simeon.
In spite of its modern setting, The Widow definitely has a feel of the Gothic to it. Scenes reminded me of Northanger Abbey and Bluebeard’s Castle, but in this case our inquisitive young heroines were men. There’s a locked door which Simeon and the readers are both desperate to open and terrified of what might be behind.
It’s billed as a dark story, but has a warmth and a light to it that I wasn’t expecting. There’s a focus on found family and protectiveness – Vashti is private but kind to those she lets in.
The Widow is an engrossing read and gets five stars from me. I’d recommend it to fans of the Gothic who are eager to see gender roles reversed, and fans of paranormal romance. The twists and secrets will keep you turning the pages – I couldn’t put it down!

View all my reviews