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melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
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
annorabrady's review against another edition
Genuinely, I could not get into the story. There was potential, but I just felt like even the most basic aspects of storytelling fell flat. The main character has base level motivation, no thought behind her actions, and no consequences for the lack of those thoughts. Even the event that could be deemed a "consequence" ends up being something that was going to happen anyways so she was saved from the guilt and growth.
Additionally, the story includes genocide and despite the FMC directly being tied to people who were victims of the genocide and her enemy being the person responsible for said genocide, there are strong indications that this story is going to be an enemies to lovers story. And that's just not my speed. Enemies to lovers when the enemies is due to personal distrust or misunderstandings is one thing. Enemies to lovers when one partner is actively evil is another thing entirely. Especially since he's years older than her and she's only 17.
Additionally, the story includes genocide and despite the FMC directly being tied to people who were victims of the genocide and her enemy being the person responsible for said genocide, there are strong indications that this story is going to be an enemies to lovers story. And that's just not my speed. Enemies to lovers when the enemies is due to personal distrust or misunderstandings is one thing. Enemies to lovers when one partner is actively evil is another thing entirely. Especially since he's years older than her and she's only 17.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Genocide, Death of parent, Death, Ableism, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received a copy of this book in a FairyLoot box.
"The Darkening" follows Vesper Vale, a young girl whose parents were failed revolutionaries. Her mother was caught by the queen and chose to die by entering the storm. Now, twelve years later, the Prince's army has finally tracked down Vesper's father and they imprison him. Vesper has always wanted to practice her father's magic and now she has the perfect opportunity. She will stop at nothing to vindicate her parents and free her father.
I was not expecting to be so invested in this story, but I was! Vesper is a strong female lead with a complex relationship with her father. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve and see them try to arrive at a middle ground together. Despite her father always keeping her at an arm's length, and trying to shield his past from her, Vesper still feels love towards him, and is devoted to rescuing him.
"The Storm" entity in this book was really interesting to read about, and I am curious to learn more in future books. We got a small taste of what the magic is that controls the Storm, and I am fascinated to see Vesper learn more and hopefully find a resolution to save her city.
I am definitely interested and am curious to pick up the sequel!
"The Darkening" follows Vesper Vale, a young girl whose parents were failed revolutionaries. Her mother was caught by the queen and chose to die by entering the storm. Now, twelve years later, the Prince's army has finally tracked down Vesper's father and they imprison him. Vesper has always wanted to practice her father's magic and now she has the perfect opportunity. She will stop at nothing to vindicate her parents and free her father.
I was not expecting to be so invested in this story, but I was! Vesper is a strong female lead with a complex relationship with her father. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve and see them try to arrive at a middle ground together. Despite her father always keeping her at an arm's length, and trying to shield his past from her, Vesper still feels love towards him, and is devoted to rescuing him.
"The Storm" entity in this book was really interesting to read about, and I am curious to learn more in future books. We got a small taste of what the magic is that controls the Storm, and I am fascinated to see Vesper learn more and hopefully find a resolution to save her city.
I am definitely interested and am curious to pick up the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Torture
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
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
asipofcozy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
3.75
After many failed attempts at picking up any YA book and enjoying them (I guess YA is just not the IT genre for me anymore), I am happy to say that I actually enjoyed The Darkening by Sunya Mara. It was unique enough to capture my attention, and that was a good thing.
I loved the idea of a storm eating everything in its path and slowly consuming the city year by year. I especially loved the backstory to the story about a Great Queen fleeing from her husband and creating a storm in her wake. It was a unique concept and was done fairly well.
I also found the magic system to be interesting, the ikonomancy. It sort of reminded me of how runes work in the Shadowhunter universe; granted, I know little of those runes, but the concept was fairly the same. It seemed that drawing ikons were an important part of the magic system. Then there was the Wardana, the guardians of the city, that protect them against the monsters that come out of the storm. I can't wait to see more of the magic system developed in the next book.
Finally, applause to the rich and diverse characters and settings. I could imagine many of the settings in this book, the shadows from the dark storm encroaching the streets, the colors and brightness of the higher parts of the city. It was breathtaking in its telling. Also, chef's kiss to the side characters Cas and Izamal. The dynamic and banter between the three Wardana is perfecto!
I did enjoy the main character Vesper. While her naiveness got her into a lot of trouble and she could annoying at times, she was trying to save a father that she loved despite his disappointment in her. She just didn't always think her actions through.
What could have been better/expectations for the next book:
I loved the idea of a storm eating everything in its path and slowly consuming the city year by year. I especially loved the backstory to the story about a Great Queen fleeing from her husband and creating a storm in her wake. It was a unique concept and was done fairly well.
I also found the magic system to be interesting, the ikonomancy. It sort of reminded me of how runes work in the Shadowhunter universe; granted, I know little of those runes, but the concept was fairly the same. It seemed that drawing ikons were an important part of the magic system. Then there was the Wardana, the guardians of the city, that protect them against the monsters that come out of the storm. I can't wait to see more of the magic system developed in the next book.
Finally, applause to the rich and diverse characters and settings. I could imagine many of the settings in this book, the shadows from the dark storm encroaching the streets, the colors and brightness of the higher parts of the city. It was breathtaking in its telling. Also, chef's kiss to the side characters Cas and Izamal. The dynamic and banter between the three Wardana is perfecto!
I did enjoy the main character Vesper. While her naiveness got her into a lot of trouble and she could annoying at times, she was trying to save a father that she loved despite his disappointment in her. She just didn't always think her actions through.
What could have been better/expectations for the next book:
- More worldbuilding - While I understand this YA and I can't expect the intensity of worldbuilding like that in high fantasy, I am hoping for more explanation behind the Great King and Queen as well as how Ikonomancy came to be.
- Dual POV - I believe that The Darkening would have benefitted from dual POV over the singular POV of Vesper that we get the entirety of this book. I think it would have helped with some of the explanations of what was going on.
- Lackluster romance - Okay, so this isn't something I am necessarily upset about. Romance in books isn't my biggest focus anymore. I am glad romance wasn't the focus here; however, it was inserted and was weird at times However, I can see more potential for expanding on this in the next book. I am just glad the MC didn't have an instant-love situation and even acknowledged to herself that while she has growing feelings, her main concern is the storm and her father.
Whelp, that's it! I kinda look forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Death of parent, War, Death, Body horror, and Animal death
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
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