guylou 's review for:

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller

3.0

---

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗦 𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 is a deliciously dark and twisty fantasy that delivers a powerful punch of ambition, deception, and sizzling tension. Set in the same world as The Shadows Between Us, this standalone companion novel follows Chrysantha Stathos, a sharp-tongued duchess who’s mastered the art of manipulation to secure her independence. But when her husband dies and a handsome, mysterious heir appears to claim what she believes is rightfully hers, the claws come out. Chrysantha's morally gray journey to redemption, paired with the demon-tinged slow-burn romance, makes this story highly entertaining. At first, her vanity and scheming may be off-putting, but her complexity and evolution are worth the investment. Eryx, the dark, secretive love interest (tail and all!) is the perfect match for her fire. Some plot elements felt rushed, but the banter, tension, and high-stakes power plays more than make up for it.