A review by sarahs89
The Dark Vault by V.E. Schwab

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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? No

5.0

This book features two books in one: The Archived and The Unbound. 

Our FMC, Mac is a hunter of Histories - the memories of the dead. Occasionally histories escape the Archive and slip causing them to become violent and a danger to themselves and the outside world who are unaware of the archives and histories. 

When Mac’s family move following the death of her younger brother, she gains a new territory and finds herself tangled in a supernatural thriller that puts her role as hunter and her life in danger. 

I really enjoyed the concepts behind this and it was executed so well.. the plot twists kept me guessing, the characters felt real and well realised and I absolutely adored the MCs. 

There is a slow burn romance and a will it become a love triangle interweaved into this but this doesn’t detract from the main plot. 

What I really enjoy with Schwab’s writing is the ability to take a magical element and entwine it so well with our world that you could easily buy into the premise and lose yourself in the story. 

This was grippy and tense in all the right places, well paced and balanced with some much needed lighter moments. All around a great read.