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writinghideout's review against another edition
4.0
This is definitely a series that gets better as it goes! The writing feels even better than the first, and the way the world of the Dark Days club expands was something really interesting. Also, this was great because it didn’t suffer from a middle book in a trilogy slump! It just felt like a continuation and expansion of the existing story, which I loved.
mickachoo's review against another edition
5.0
Hello, I'm here to cry about all my feelings of love for this book, Lord Carlston, Lady Helen, William and Helen together and pretty much everything else.
I am still reeling. Lord, help.
I was dying to get my hands on this book and I'm so mad at myself for reading it so fast; I wanted to make it last as long as possible since the conclusion doesn't come out until November but I couldn't help it! These books are just so good!
My never dying love for Lord Carlston (WILLIAM!!!!) was so well fed! These books are a whole five course meal, some finger sandwiches, and a midnight snack. And they just get better as they go!
Once again, I am just utterly taken by the historical accuracy and elements in this world of Lady Helen's. Alison Goodman does such a beautiful job painting us a picture of Regency era England and the society within it. It's such a beautiful thing to read and just adds so much more to the amazing story that is already there.
In the first book, like I said in my review for it, it was a slow progress. Partly because there was a lot of introduction for the world/society, the characters, and the paranormal elements to the story. I wondered if this book would be the same case and while it wasn't exactly so, there were moments that seemed a bit sluggish but were necessary to the plot so I'm not mad about it.
We see such beautiful character development in this book since we're past the stage of introductions and all.
Helen is such a wonderful character. She's caught up in being estranged from her uncle and she's trying to deal with this new world she's brought into as well as her growing feelings for Carlston and, his ever annoying ass, the Duke. (I WILL FIGHT ANYBODY WHO LIKES GERARD WITH HIS DOODOO HEAD SELF!) Helen is also making connections and friendships with the other characters in the book all the while racing to learn how to be a proper Reclaimer and deal with what exactly is going on with Carlston and some other things I won't mention because spoilers. Helen is such an admirable characters as she faces obstacles throughout the paranormal side of society as well as the proper England one. There's a fine line she has to trod, and cross, and all the while, she has to figure out just who she is as a person. She's a really delightful character, headstrong and beautifully flawed.
My one problem I had with Helen was some puppy-like-love towards the beginning of the book but it was quickly brushed off and also necessary so we can deal with that!
While Carlston is not quite as present as Helen and therefore doesn't get as much obvious character development, he's still such an entertaining character and he's still such a mystery that I look forward to learning so much more about him in the next book. He obviously has a very interesting past and things that were revealed at the end of the book (HOW RUDE OF AN ENDING) will definitely make for some interesting character and plot developments in TDDD. There's so much we've yet to find out about him and I really want to see more of him. I love his hateful ass to death and I just want to see him happy, okay! He's obviously got a good heart and he really is dedicated to TDDC but he also has a lot of shit weighing down on his shoulders and people expecting a lot from him.
Aside from my ship, which I'm still crying over, another favorite character is Michael Hammond. He's such a kind soul and soft and I really love him. I'd like to punch his sister though.
There's really so many loveable characters in these books that I'm so attached.
This book was such a great addition to the series. There were so many new people and things and places to read about here and it just keeps you from wanting to ever put it down. I really can't wait for the next book.
I am still reeling. Lord, help.
I was dying to get my hands on this book and I'm so mad at myself for reading it so fast; I wanted to make it last as long as possible since the conclusion doesn't come out until November but I couldn't help it! These books are just so good!
My never dying love for Lord Carlston (WILLIAM!!!!) was so well fed! These books are a whole five course meal, some finger sandwiches, and a midnight snack. And they just get better as they go!
Once again, I am just utterly taken by the historical accuracy and elements in this world of Lady Helen's. Alison Goodman does such a beautiful job painting us a picture of Regency era England and the society within it. It's such a beautiful thing to read and just adds so much more to the amazing story that is already there.
In the first book, like I said in my review for it, it was a slow progress. Partly because there was a lot of introduction for the world/society, the characters, and the paranormal elements to the story. I wondered if this book would be the same case and while it wasn't exactly so, there were moments that seemed a bit sluggish but were necessary to the plot so I'm not mad about it.
We see such beautiful character development in this book since we're past the stage of introductions and all.
Helen is such a wonderful character. She's caught up in being estranged from her uncle and she's trying to deal with this new world she's brought into as well as her growing feelings for Carlston and, his ever annoying ass, the Duke. (I WILL FIGHT ANYBODY WHO LIKES GERARD WITH HIS DOODOO HEAD SELF!) Helen is also making connections and friendships with the other characters in the book all the while racing to learn how to be a proper Reclaimer and deal with what exactly is going on with Carlston and some other things I won't mention because spoilers. Helen is such an admirable characters as she faces obstacles throughout the paranormal side of society as well as the proper England one. There's a fine line she has to trod, and cross, and all the while, she has to figure out just who she is as a person. She's a really delightful character, headstrong and beautifully flawed.
My one problem I had with Helen was some puppy-like-love towards the beginning of the book but it was quickly brushed off and also necessary so we can deal with that!
While Carlston is not quite as present as Helen and therefore doesn't get as much obvious character development, he's still such an entertaining character and he's still such a mystery that I look forward to learning so much more about him in the next book. He obviously has a very interesting past and things that were revealed at the end of the book (HOW RUDE OF AN ENDING) will definitely make for some interesting character and plot developments in TDDD. There's so much we've yet to find out about him and I really want to see more of him. I love his hateful ass to death and I just want to see him happy, okay! He's obviously got a good heart and he really is dedicated to TDDC but he also has a lot of shit weighing down on his shoulders and people expecting a lot from him.
Aside from my ship, which I'm still crying over, another favorite character is Michael Hammond. He's such a kind soul and soft and I really love him. I'd like to punch his sister though.
There's really so many loveable characters in these books that I'm so attached.
This book was such a great addition to the series. There were so many new people and things and places to read about here and it just keeps you from wanting to ever put it down. I really can't wait for the next book.
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
5.0
The Dark Days Pact doesn't suffer from a lack of intrigue and action. Far from it. Whereas The Dark Days Club was a little slow to get going - the author needing to show just how constrained society was for women at this period - Book 2 neatly sidesteps the problem by having Lady Helen learning to walk and talk just like a man.
As soon as that's been accomplished, Lady Helen finds herself caught in the middle of a number of different intrigues as she tries to please everyone, and initially, fails quite magnificently.
If anything, my only slight problem with the novel is the Duke of Selburn, who quite simply, gets in the way time and time again. As others have mentioned - you can't help wondering if he is The Great Deceiver but that is not answered in this novel, and possibly won't be for a good few to go.
Bring on Book 3!
As soon as that's been accomplished, Lady Helen finds herself caught in the middle of a number of different intrigues as she tries to please everyone, and initially, fails quite magnificently.
If anything, my only slight problem with the novel is the Duke of Selburn, who quite simply, gets in the way time and time again. As others have mentioned - you can't help wondering if he is The Great Deceiver but that is not answered in this novel, and possibly won't be for a good few to go.
Bring on Book 3!
carrymey's review against another edition
4.0
This book had me putting it down so often to cry out "oh my god". I lost count. I don't even know where to begin, but I shall try.
So things get from bad to worse, to super-duper-worse in such a speed that I hardly knew however anything should be resolved upon. It did however, if not all, off course.
The tone was much darker in this books, as is to be expected. I enjoyed the few ball scenes a lot, since I am a sucker for regency romance. It was almost a bit too dark for me. I missed some more lighthearted moments.
Still the story was unputdownable. It drove me almost crazy I can tell you. All that tension. Sigh.
Lady Helen really grew a lot in this book, from unsure and helpless to commanding and authoritative and strong. I really liked that, though (as with Buffy) I hated see her become darker and darker, but maybe that's just me.
The story certainly got more interesting (I really can't say too much!), and the stakes are so much higher than they ever were.
I already feel myself craving for the next book!
So things get from bad to worse, to super-duper-worse in such a speed that I hardly knew however anything should be resolved upon. It did however, if not all, off course.
The tone was much darker in this books, as is to be expected. I enjoyed the few ball scenes a lot, since I am a sucker for regency romance. It was almost a bit too dark for me. I missed some more lighthearted moments.
Still the story was unputdownable. It drove me almost crazy I can tell you. All that tension. Sigh.
Lady Helen really grew a lot in this book, from unsure and helpless to commanding and authoritative and strong. I really liked that, though (as with Buffy) I hated see her become darker and darker, but maybe that's just me.
The story certainly got more interesting (I really can't say too much!), and the stakes are so much higher than they ever were.
I already feel myself craving for the next book!
nyeran's review against another edition
3.0
- "Which way do we run when we see danger; away from it, or towards it?"
- "It depends on what the danger is."
- "No. It depends on what is at stake."
♠ A me la Goodman piace tanto, sia chiaro. Scrive bene, ha storie interessanti, le sue protagoniste sono fantastiche. Ha solo un piccolo difetto. È estremamente prolissa. È come l’Ape Piaggio, da 0 a 65 km/h in 200 pagine.
Poi per carità l’azione è bella, ben scritta, coinvolgente, tutto quello che volete, ma arriva ogni morte di papà. E in quegli intermezzi papali non ci stanno cose che ti tengono incollata alla lettura o te la rendono piacevole, scorrevole e interessante. No, non c’è niente. Per 200 pagine l’unica cosa che sappiamo è che Helen deve recuperare un diario cercando di non farsi scoprire da Lord Carlston che lo cerca a sua volta. A metà libro questo è tutto quello che vediamo, intervallato da accolli infiniti del Duca di Selburn, che risulta pericolosamente inquietante e asfissiante, balli pieni di pettegolezzi e momenti di tensione sessuale tra Helen e Carlston. Fine.
♠ Persino il presunto allenamento di Helen come Deceiver, che a parere mio avrebbe dovuto avere più spazio, non è mai in primo piano. Ci viene detto che Helen si allena ma noi non vediamo mai effettivamente come si svolgono questi allenamenti o in cosa consistano, sappiamo solo che Helen studia e che deve imparare a comportarsi come un uomo per poter adempiere al suo lavoro. Anche in questo caso però c’è solo il commento messo li per far capire che si sta allenando.
♠ Parte della stella in meno è probabilmente dovuta al fatto che questo libro non ha cambiate ne migliorato la mia opinione di Lord Carlston. Al contrario, se nel primo libro la sua presenza mi lasciava completamente indifferente in questo libro, se possibile, è riuscito a scendere in basso. Non ha ancora toccato il fondo ma è sulla buona strada.
Con questo non voglio dire che io non abbia apprezzato il triangolo, se ne sta buono buono nella sua zona e non rovina i giochi, però non riuscendo ad apprezzare particolarmente nessuno dei due cateti rimanevo sempre un po’ interdetta ad ogni dialogo.
Perlomeno anche in questo libro continuo a salvare Helen, senza dubbi, e tutte le donne. Esatto. TUTTE. Anche Lady Margaret. Amo l’amicizia sincera tra di loro, il loro supporto incondizionato, tutto.
Però dai, Lady Helen, Lady Margaret e il fratello sono tutti innamorati di Lord Carlston. Un po’ esagerata come cosa, no!? L’unico gay della storia guarda caso muore dietro all’interesse amoroso.
- "It depends on what the danger is."
- "No. It depends on what is at stake."
♠ A me la Goodman piace tanto, sia chiaro. Scrive bene, ha storie interessanti, le sue protagoniste sono fantastiche. Ha solo un piccolo difetto. È estremamente prolissa. È come l’Ape Piaggio, da 0 a 65 km/h in 200 pagine.
Poi per carità l’azione è bella, ben scritta, coinvolgente, tutto quello che volete, ma arriva ogni morte di papà. E in quegli intermezzi papali non ci stanno cose che ti tengono incollata alla lettura o te la rendono piacevole, scorrevole e interessante. No, non c’è niente. Per 200 pagine l’unica cosa che sappiamo è che Helen deve recuperare un diario cercando di non farsi scoprire da Lord Carlston che lo cerca a sua volta. A metà libro questo è tutto quello che vediamo, intervallato da accolli infiniti del Duca di Selburn, che risulta pericolosamente inquietante e asfissiante, balli pieni di pettegolezzi e momenti di tensione sessuale tra Helen e Carlston. Fine.
♠ Persino il presunto allenamento di Helen come Deceiver, che a parere mio avrebbe dovuto avere più spazio, non è mai in primo piano. Ci viene detto che Helen si allena ma noi non vediamo mai effettivamente come si svolgono questi allenamenti o in cosa consistano, sappiamo solo che Helen studia e che deve imparare a comportarsi come un uomo per poter adempiere al suo lavoro. Anche in questo caso però c’è solo il commento messo li per far capire che si sta allenando.
♠ Parte della stella in meno è probabilmente dovuta al fatto che questo libro non ha cambiate ne migliorato la mia opinione di Lord Carlston. Al contrario, se nel primo libro la sua presenza mi lasciava completamente indifferente in questo libro, se possibile, è riuscito a scendere in basso. Non ha ancora toccato il fondo ma è sulla buona strada.
Con questo non voglio dire che io non abbia apprezzato il triangolo, se ne sta buono buono nella sua zona e non rovina i giochi, però non riuscendo ad apprezzare particolarmente nessuno dei due cateti rimanevo sempre un po’ interdetta ad ogni dialogo.
Perlomeno anche in questo libro continuo a salvare Helen, senza dubbi, e tutte le donne. Esatto. TUTTE. Anche Lady Margaret. Amo l’amicizia sincera tra di loro, il loro supporto incondizionato, tutto.
Però dai, Lady Helen, Lady Margaret e il fratello sono tutti innamorati di Lord Carlston. Un po’ esagerata come cosa, no!? L’unico gay della storia guarda caso muore dietro all’interesse amoroso.
accidentalspaceexplorer's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really wish Helen would kick the Duke out a window, & I'm really tired of hearing how everyone thinks Helen is inept because she's a woman. But the plot is very dramatic & gripping, & I'm having fun with that.
steph01924's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, so much to process! Even better than the first! Check out my full report over at Forever Young Adult.
Update: Re-reading for the second time Nov 2018 in anticipation of the third book and I'm already excited to dive back in! Can't believe it's been almost 2 years since I first read it. Still just as good as the first time!
Update: Re-reading for the second time Nov 2018 in anticipation of the third book and I'm already excited to dive back in! Can't believe it's been almost 2 years since I first read it. Still just as good as the first time!
amoureux_des_livres's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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? No
4.25
jennagarcia's review against another edition
Dnf’d at 33%. I tried but it was so boring. Also if ppl just communicated properly there would have been very little plot.
jadeandherbunny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I'm biased AF because it's my childhood
Don't binge this series since there are many reminders from the last book's content and it can become annoying real quick.
Don't binge this series since there are many reminders from the last book's content and it can become annoying real quick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Murder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Sexism, Homophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Gun violence, Self harm, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Classism, and Pedophilia