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leweylibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
My biggest issue with this book is that it didn't feel like there was much about the characters or their growth and relationships. I was so confused as to why the FMC wanted to be with the dude she did when nothing in their interactions felt like much was there? All in all, it was still a pretty fun book, and I'll probably read the second one in the duology when it comes out in August.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Death of parent
darbysbookland's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sunya Mara has really done something fantastic in this book. She clearly put her heart into writing it, because it's been awhile since I've read a book that has captivated me so much, that has held my attention from the very beginning to the very end, and that has made me question whether I know where any of it is going while still feeling like it all made sense looking back afterwards.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, and Death of parent
fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This fucking book, okay?
I'm an unfortunate sucker for the chosen one girl in a YA trope (thank you, Katniss) and this one really hammers that into you.
1. Vesper (like even the name, come on!!)
2. lives in an area affected by The Storm, and her Region™️ is the last one on the outskirts closest to it, and it's the poorest region.
3. she's not trained in the Magic System™️ but she loves it
4. there's a rich boy who takes pity on her bc of something having to do with the Government™️
5. she has a family tie that creates a vengeance arc so she finds her way to the Capital™️
7. circumstances arise that lead to her working with the rich boy (she thinks that maybe she underestimated him)
8. they're thrown into the Gauntlet™️
9. Alliances are formed and broken, promises are stretched thin, betrayals - how could I ever love someone like You™️?
10. One of them either dies/falls into a coma and the last thing they see is their Enemy?™️
It's like, everything that is tired and we're supposed to hate. BUT- Truly I'm not sure if I'm just, like, giving the book more grace than it's due. BUT-
I think I always give more leeway to a first book, knowing that the author likely has planned arcs over the multiples rather than the individual, so I wanted to suspend my belief, y'know? I didn't mind the questions I had about the magic system, or the politics, etc. I felt like this book very intentionally only gave us the pieces that were given to Vesper. We're *supposed* to feel a little lost in a world we don't fully understand, because that's how Vesper feels in the Ven. I found myself tabbing something as important, then coming across a related thing and running back to the note like, proud of myself that I had called it. It was rewarding to piece things together with Vesper.
I ate up her friendship with the boys,like, so much so that I was in tears at work towards the end of this book . It reminded me of my own friends that I would kill or die for. She was infuriating and rash and impetuous, but she's a 17 year old chosen one! That's her job description.
Something about the writing, the fluidity of the story, drew me in and held me for the two full days it took me to read this. Any time I had to stop reading, I found myself counting the minutes until I could pick it back up. I was fully entranced the entire time. Freaking witchcraft.
I'm an unfortunate sucker for the chosen one girl in a YA trope (thank you, Katniss) and this one really hammers that into you.
1. Vesper (like even the name, come on!!)
2. lives in an area affected by The Storm, and her Region™️ is the last one on the outskirts closest to it, and it's the poorest region.
3. she's not trained in the Magic System™️ but she loves it
4. there's a rich boy who takes pity on her bc of something having to do with the Government™️
5. she has a family tie that creates a vengeance arc so she finds her way to the Capital™️
7. circumstances arise that lead to her working with the rich boy (she thinks that maybe she underestimated him)
8. they're thrown into the Gauntlet™️
9. Alliances are formed and broken, promises are stretched thin, betrayals - how could I ever love someone like You™️?
10. One of them either dies/falls into a coma and the last thing they see is their Enemy?™️
It's like, everything that is tired and we're supposed to hate. BUT- Truly I'm not sure if I'm just, like, giving the book more grace than it's due. BUT-
I think I always give more leeway to a first book, knowing that the author likely has planned arcs over the multiples rather than the individual, so I wanted to suspend my belief, y'know? I didn't mind the questions I had about the magic system, or the politics, etc. I felt like this book very intentionally only gave us the pieces that were given to Vesper. We're *supposed* to feel a little lost in a world we don't fully understand, because that's how Vesper feels in the Ven. I found myself tabbing something as important, then coming across a related thing and running back to the note like, proud of myself that I had called it. It was rewarding to piece things together with Vesper.
I ate up her friendship with the boys,
Something about the writing, the fluidity of the story, drew me in and held me for the two full days it took me to read this. Any time I had to stop reading, I found myself counting the minutes until I could pick it back up. I was fully entranced the entire time. Freaking witchcraft.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, War, Violence, Classism, Grief, Confinement, Blood, and Body horror
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.25
This was such a good read and it gave me all the YA feels that I love about the genre. The characters were fun and interesting and the world-building is so interesting and out-wordly. There's no dumb rules for only male monarchs, the rulers are queer, female, siblings ruling together.
Yes, it's a bit basic at times — the different city parts relating to power, evil princes who aren't so evil after all but why change a working system? 😉 There is a lot of poc-rep and I spy mlm rep in the future 🤞🏻 Ikonomancy is an interesting power system and it doesn't rely on violence, more on academic wisdom. At first, I was a bit confused but it made more sense as the book went on and the explanations actually made sense for once, haha.
The ending made me feel like I was on drugs and it was all a bit crazy (and the characterisation went 🏃🏼♀🏃🏼♀🏃🏼♀) but I'm still really excited for the next book!
Yes, it's a bit basic at times — the different city parts relating to power, evil princes who aren't so evil after all but why change a working system? 😉 There is a lot of poc-rep and I spy mlm rep in the future 🤞🏻 Ikonomancy is an interesting power system and it doesn't rely on violence, more on academic wisdom. At first, I was a bit confused but it made more sense as the book went on and the explanations actually made sense for once, haha.
The ending made me feel like I was on drugs and it was all a bit crazy (and the characterisation went 🏃🏼♀🏃🏼♀🏃🏼♀) but I'm still really excited for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Confinement, and Violence
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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