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melissaslibraryy's review
Dropped the book on chapter 13. It’s unfortunate that I had to soft dnf since I was really looking forward to reading the book after the authors amazing marketing vids on TikTok, but I just can’t seem to get into it for some reason. I was a bit confused on the world building in the beginning and even though I kind of understood as the book progressed that and the plot wasn’t enough to keep me intrigued ☹️ I’ll come back to this one day (hopefully) once I’m in the mood if not then it was worth a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Police brutality, Murder, Violence, and War
imaginingly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
straight up one of the best endings to a book i have ever read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Classism, Violence, and Grief
mattyroh07's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Death
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
renaaria's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Classism, and Body horror
bimess_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I've been struggling to read this book for a minute. At first, it felt like it was going nowhere. The beginning of it slow like it was trying to find its footing? I don't know how to better describe it. Though, that's what the story was at first. Filled with descriptions that pushed me away.
I'm someone that grows tired of that. When you spend too much time describing something that with a few sentences was enough.
But I picked the book right up and finished it. It gets better after page 269? Around there. Which is disappointing to me. However, as the story got where it should've been before, I saw myself enjoying it. It got better and better at the end. I wish that it didn't take till the last minute for the story to actually begin.
the characters: I loved the fact but her relationship with her love interest didn't make any sense. Not one that was properly told. By the end of the book you kinda get the gist but it didn't really made me feel anything. The timeline for their relationship also bothered me.
The other characters? I loved them all to be honest. I wish we had more of them. But we were all stuck inside the head of our fmc.
Overall, I'm not going to lie. I love this book. I have my own issues with it but I loved it. I will be getting the second book when it releases next month.
For those who wish to read it or about to give up: Keep in mind that the story is slow. And that the relationships won't make sense but it's worth it. Those final chapters? Had me at the edge of my bed.
I do hope the second book's storytelling is much faster. Less focused on the descriptions of the world around them. More focused on their connections. That's my hope for it.
I'm someone that grows tired of that. When you spend too much time describing something that with a few sentences was enough.
But I picked the book right up and finished it. It gets better after page 269? Around there. Which is disappointing to me. However, as the story got where it should've been before, I saw myself enjoying it. It got better and better at the end. I wish that it didn't take till the last minute for the story to actually begin.
the characters: I loved the fact but her relationship with her love interest didn't make any sense. Not one that was properly told. By the end of the book you kinda get the gist but it didn't really made me feel anything. The timeline for their relationship also bothered me.
The other characters? I loved them all to be honest. I wish we had more of them. But we were all stuck inside the head of our fmc.
Overall, I'm not going to lie. I love this book. I have my own issues with it but I loved it. I will be getting the second book when it releases next month.
For those who wish to read it or about to give up: Keep in mind that the story is slow. And that the relationships won't make sense but it's worth it. Those final chapters? Had me at the edge of my bed.
I do hope the second book's storytelling is much faster. Less focused on the descriptions of the world around them. More focused on their connections. That's my hope for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Classism, and Suicide
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I really didn’t really care for this read, unfortunately. It’s not very helpful but I don’t feel like going further with my explanations as to why. I don’t have anything nice to say other than the concept had possibility.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, War, Blood, and Death of parent
kirstenf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Classism, Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
hannianne17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For anyone that needs them:
Trigger Warnings: death of parent, bereaved child, child death, minor instance of animal cruelty (animal doesn't die), classism, sexism, suicide, grief, violence, death by fire, themes of terminal/chronic illness, generational trauma, natural disaster, injury.
Representation: Characters are described as having brown skin and South Asian influences in reference to world building.
I am genuinely blown away by how amazing this book was. I couldn't believe this was Sunya Mara's debut. It was poetic and beautiful in the best of ways.
Overview
Vesper Vale is thrown into a life that she didn't choose. Her father and her are on the run from the Regia and the Wardana in their kingdom. This is because her father and her mother were labeled as traitors by the Regia due to the rebellion they organized and led in an attempt to get justice for the lower rings (kind of like cities). Her mother was sentenced to death for her actions.
The kingdom is surrounded by a storm with no end. As it encroaches on the fifth ring (Vesper's home), the threat of it overtaking everything becomes real. Vesper almost gets killed by a storm beast (creatures that live in the storm), but her father saves her by using an ikon (the world's unique magic system). There's one problem....that ikon is one only her father knows because he invented it. Now, they must flee the fifth ring before he's caught.
This book will have your heart racing from the beginning. I was instantly hooked. Vesper is motivated for her own selfish reasons - to save her father. Vesper is clever and quick on her feet, though a little impulsive. I enjoyed watching her character growth as she grapples with complex issues. She's one of my favorite heroines by far.
Dalca, the prince, is just as clever and complex. Vesper and Dalca fight feelings for one another as they navigate the world that was left behind for them. Both of them destined to fulfill roles neither wanted.
The 'found family' includes Dalca's trusted Wardana members, Cas and Iz. All of them come from different backgrounds. Cas is from a privileged family in the upper rings and has a pretty classist mindset. Iz comes from the same ring as Vesper and is battling with his morality as he's torn between two worlds.
Their goal is the same - to stop the storm. All of them motivated by their own selfish reasons.
They're desperate enough to stop it by actually going into the storm where they must face their 'shadow selves' - all in different forms. Vesper's is a literal shadow. Dalca's is his inner child. Iz's is a monstrous cat. And Cas' is his alter ego of who his father wants him to be. The "perfect" son.
I loved loved loved this aspect to this book. It's a story about healing childhood and generational trauma and finding your identity. There were moments I got emotional because of just how raw and brilliant it was written. Especially when Vesper was forced to break herself apart in the storm and swallow every piece of herself. Even the ones she didn't like. As someone working through generational trauma, Sunya Mara put feelings I've experienced into tangible words. This will definitely be on the top of my favorites list.
Not to mention, the magic system is brilliant!
Let these quotes be an example of how beautiful the author's writing is:
Trigger Warnings: death of parent, bereaved child, child death, minor instance of animal cruelty (animal doesn't die), classism, sexism, suicide, grief, violence, death by fire, themes of terminal/chronic illness, generational trauma, natural disaster, injury.
Representation: Characters are described as having brown skin and South Asian influences in reference to world building.
I am genuinely blown away by how amazing this book was. I couldn't believe this was Sunya Mara's debut. It was poetic and beautiful in the best of ways.
Overview
Vesper Vale is thrown into a life that she didn't choose. Her father and her are on the run from the Regia and the Wardana in their kingdom. This is because her father and her mother were labeled as traitors by the Regia due to the rebellion they organized and led in an attempt to get justice for the lower rings (kind of like cities). Her mother was sentenced to death for her actions.
The kingdom is surrounded by a storm with no end. As it encroaches on the fifth ring (Vesper's home), the threat of it overtaking everything becomes real. Vesper almost gets killed by a storm beast (creatures that live in the storm), but her father saves her by using an ikon (the world's unique magic system). There's one problem....that ikon is one only her father knows because he invented it. Now, they must flee the fifth ring before he's caught.
This book will have your heart racing from the beginning. I was instantly hooked. Vesper is motivated for her own selfish reasons - to save her father. Vesper is clever and quick on her feet, though a little impulsive. I enjoyed watching her character growth as she grapples with complex issues. She's one of my favorite heroines by far.
Dalca, the prince, is just as clever and complex. Vesper and Dalca fight feelings for one another as they navigate the world that was left behind for them. Both of them destined to fulfill roles neither wanted.
The 'found family' includes Dalca's trusted Wardana members, Cas and Iz. All of them come from different backgrounds. Cas is from a privileged family in the upper rings and has a pretty classist mindset. Iz comes from the same ring as Vesper and is battling with his morality as he's torn between two worlds.
Their goal is the same - to stop the storm. All of them motivated by their own selfish reasons.
They're desperate enough to stop it by actually going into the storm where they must face their 'shadow selves' - all in different forms. Vesper's is a literal shadow. Dalca's is his inner child. Iz's is a monstrous cat. And Cas' is his alter ego of who his father wants him to be. The "perfect" son.
I loved loved loved this aspect to this book. It's a story about healing childhood and generational trauma and finding your identity. There were moments I got emotional because of just how raw and brilliant it was written. Especially when Vesper was forced to break herself apart in the storm and swallow every piece of herself. Even the ones she didn't like. As someone working through generational trauma, Sunya Mara put feelings I've experienced into tangible words. This will definitely be on the top of my favorites list.
Not to mention, the magic system is brilliant!
Let these quotes be an example of how beautiful the author's writing is:
"There is no turning back. The storm is within you now; where you go, it will follow. The only way out is to go further into the storm, further into you. Down and down you must go, until you descend into the dark heart of the storm, into the darkest pits of your soul. You must not turn your back on anything that you find. Face it all. Accept it all. Only then may you find what you seek."
"I become whole. I become me: light and dark and mystery between."
"The business of changing things. It's always worth being the enemy of a diseased state. I had forgotten that."
"The storm is one roiling mass of lightning and shifting beasts. Worse than ever before. Have I brought this upon all of us? Am I following in Ma's footsteps - dreaming big, leaving more pain in my wake? No. I won't let this happen."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Death of parent, Child death, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and War
starrysteph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The Darkening lives up to its captivating cover art. It’s got a great cast of characters, a clever magic system, and a uniquely terrifying layer of chaos within a living storm.
Our story takes place in a world divided into rings, with the poorest on the outskirts. A living, magical Storm that curses any who touch it threatens the land and has overtaken several of the rings already. We follow teenage Vesper, the daughter of failed revolutionaries who has a strong spirit and desire to save her community. When her father is discovered + captured for his past crimes, Vesper embarks on a journey to infiltrate the royal ring and find a way to save her city.
I found the prose very digestible - I would have absolutely devoured this as a young teenager. It’s simple enough for a young audience to understand, but still incredibly vivid.
The magic of this world is comprised of written ikons; symbols that can be combined and embellished and created by those with a deep knowledge of their building blocks. The integration of magic into the world was so creative and playful; I loved discovering all the nifty ways ikons could be used, whether you’re desperately scratching a symbol into the dirt to save your life or using an incomplete ikon to hide a secret passage or adding a sense of wonder to pastries by using ikons to charm candied decorations to life.
The living Storm was fascinating … a representation of pain and grief and fear, and what happens when you retract into yourself and let rage take over as protection. Everyone who touches or is touched by an element of the Storm is forever changed (cursed) in a way unique to their flaws or secrets.
This is a world of gods, but the only god exacting his power via the current rulers is a dangerous representation of aggressive, toxic masculinity that leaves no room for adaptation.
I found our main character Vesper very likable. She certainly has her flaws, and has a big coming-of-age arc, but she’s determined and witty and clever. I was rooting for her with all my heart & loved her journey of self-discovery and discovering her confidence and power. I also appreciated the complexity of the side characters; they were all so charming in their own ways.
I also enjoyed the elements of political intrigue: what does it mean to be a good ruler (is there such a thing)? We’re witnessing two different perspectives here (Vesper, who lives on the outskirts of society, and the prince in line to become Regia) and they grapple to determine which approach will best serve the needs of their city.
Finally, it’s tough to talk about this without giving too much away, but the backstory of the Storm was delightful. I’m truly looking forward to the sequel (and a bit nervous!).
(And yeah yeah, there’s the start of an enemies to lovers arc if that tickles your fancy.)
CW: death, child death, death of a parent, animal cruelty, classism, confinement, chronic illness, terminal illness, injury, possession, fire/death by fire, suicide, sexism, misogyny, grief
CW: death, child death, death of a parent, animal cruelty, classism, confinement, chronic illness, terminal illness, injury, possession, fire/death by fire, suicide, sexism, misogyny, grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Misogyny
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