A review by zillanovikov
Darknesses by Lachelle Seville

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-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

I devoured this book. It took me three days, which is less time than it took the characters to eat each other, but it was worth my very limited patience to see them fall completely in love.

There is a very specific genre, which may or may not have a name - don't ask me - about abuse survivors who find people who love them entire, scars and all, and make a found family to replace what blood denied them. Think Black Jewels Trilogy. I am a connoisseur of these novels. I consider the best of the genre to be the stories allow the survivors space to be angry, to refuse to forgive the unforgivable, to seek revenge on the perpetrators and the complicit. We need space for rage. We need to be loved in our righteous anger as well as our self-hated. Lachelle's book savours revenge like a fine red wine. All will end well, it promises you. The broken can be loved. The wicked can be punished. Both will be glorious.

In a world where the angels don't protect you, it's a great comfort to think the devil and her friends have your back.