A review by amy_reads4
Dark Night Golden Dawn by Allison Carr Waechter

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I absolutely loved this book! As a romantasy reader this is everything I could have ever wanted and more! Witches, vampires, shifters, secret societies, secret powers, hidden history, creature politics, strong LGBTQIA+ representation, historical texts, second chance romance, spice, spice in alternate forms, a whole new world and just so so much more.

Our FMC & MMC are a childhood sweethearts gone wrong story, with a love blossoming at school when all of a sudden Finn completely changes and breaks Harlow’s heart. Many years later Harlow is 6 months out of a very toxic very abusive relationship and trying to repair not only herself but her relationships with her family, and I loved her family. This is one of those books where not only do you adore the main couple but you also adore all of the side characters and their pairings and I cannot wait to see what happens next for them all! I’m so invested into this world now.

The only reason it hasn’t had 5 stars from me is I feel the world building was very complicated (which I would expected from a first in a series like this) but also the pacing felt off in a couple of moments. I will say if you are looking for a slow burn then this is not the book for you, it’s almost instant forgiveness with a little touch of angst along the way. Which I personally love! It didn’t have any of the things in a romance that annoy me, like never ending miscommunication or a third act break up that doesn’t resolve quickly. This is a fast pace book with both the plot and the romance, which is something I personally enjoy, but I am aware not everyone does.

The plot was also brilliant, whilst there were complexities to it once you were immersed in the world it became so much easier to follow along.

Please do check your triggers warnings when going into this, the another does a FANTASTIC job in given you the trigger warnings and I think it might be one of the best I’ve ever seen. Harlow has to work through some really dark moments and we go right through it with her. There were moments in this book I laughed and moments I cried, I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of it and just desperate to know what happened next.

if you are a romantasy spicy reader I highly

recommended this book and I cannot wait to get into the rest of the series and find out what happens to some of my newly discovered favourite characters!