Reviews

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

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chanelchapters's review against another edition

5.0

4.5

Sentient houses, cat-like spirits, horny-boys and a girl with badass butterflies.

I would have liked a bit more tension/flirtation with the romance but it was a lovely, magic filled story with deep dark woods, forgotten gods and the power you find within.

allonsythornraxx's review

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4.0

22/05/2024
4 ⭐
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”

Howl's Moving Castle meets Beauty and The Beast, but make it darker.

A B Poranek really lured me in with those chapter titles and then crushed me at the very last minute. I don't like it, but I respect it. Please tell me Poranek has a new book coming out soon!

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justkristykay's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think I have a new favorite book. This has EVERYTHING. You can see the inspiration of Howl's Moving Castle but this story is so delightfully it's own thing. It's so unapologetically Polish and steeped in that culture. The woods are both lovely and an ideal place to live while also being the spookiest Gothic woods of your nightmares. The visceral descriptions of that spookiness and ick bring it to life and made me cringe in fantastic ways. Especially that final showdown. Reading about ants crawling along a tongue was wonderfully disgusting.

And the characters! I love Liska and the Leszy. They have such a fun dynamic with a clear chemistry from the start with their wit and charmingly awkward exchanges. I loved how their relationship progressed and how Liska brought the manor to life.

Eliasz's declaratios of love had me kicking my feet, utter devotion.

The ending!! So very Polish, smh.

That was my first thought when Eliasz died and Liska laid down in the grave. But that final line!!

I need another book, stat. Please, I need more. I dragged this book out because I wasn't ready for it to end.

emmakgunnar's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

lorrreli's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

foxfirepages's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious

5.0

Absolutely beautiful. I haven't sobbed this hard because of a book in a long time. It's our beloved story of woman meets dark fae man in the forest and makes a bargain that she definitely shouldnt but it has the dark tinge that a lot of authors don't dare to give their stories. The Leszy is what we all wished Tamlin from Acotar could have been, honestly. I love the writing style, the folklore that is not your typical fae and yet so familiar... An absolute must read for anyone who loves dark fairytales with a bittersweet taste that leaves you wanting for more while also hysterically sobbing. I can't wait to read more books by Ania Poranek.