The Darkening (The Darkening Duology Book 1)

Product Information

This was an enticing debut from Sunya Mara! I enjoyed this high-stakes fantasy mixed with political intrigue, alluring magic, and romance. The South Asian influences, although not as prominent as other South Asian fantasies, were also super cool to follow along with. I liked following Vesper on her mission to rescue her father from the clutches of the Wardana by posing as a third-year apprentice. This trope of the MC sneaking into the castle undercover to learn of the courts' secrets is not new in YA Fantasy, but it was still interesting to read about. I also really liked each of Vesper's dynamics with Dalca, Iz, and Cas and how some bonds grew (while others didn't) as the story progressed. The action sequences were also written in a very visceral manner and I found myself holding my breath any time Vesper or her father were in danger. A pause, and then a faint, "I'm sorry." A rustling sound, as if he's moving away. - "Dalca?" I call. "If anything changes, you have my permission to barge in, all right?" - A low, embarrassed laugh. "All right."

As much as I hated to say goodbye to this world, I loved the ending. It felt true to the characters, to the magic and the world. Everything that had happened up to this point had made sense and the way it was rounded off was exactly what I wanted it to be. An enchanting and wildly clever debut, Mara's The Darkening delivers on every promise. From its storm-tossed world, to its lyrical prose, to its propulsive, electrifying plot, readers will find themselves utterly ensnared by this book - it is a true masterclass in young adult fantasy Before we go into the detail of this review, we feel it is important to state a few home truths about the review team - a) we have never believed in Paranormal TV programs such as Most Haunted, b) we have always distanced ourselves from paranormal investigations and ghost hunts and c) we are a sceptical bunch about most things (although put us in an allegedly haunted building in the dark, we will still jump at any little sound!) Someone pushes past me, trying to get me to hurry into line, and I’m jostled into the crowd of food seekers. I shove and sidestep my way out - things aren’t so bad that I have to take charity. Someone else needs that stew more, I’m sure.I'm not a big fan of Vesper's character. Her self doubt was more annoying than relatable. And there were a couple times where her inner monologue would question something (e.g. would having the perfect day every day be a good reality) but the answer is obvious (no), and she seems a bit naive or immature to even be questioning whatever it was. The ending is incredible and will definitely make you want to scream. I need the next book now! The end section of this story felt quite reminiscent to me of one of my all-time favourite books, The City of Dusk by Tara Sim because of its themes of darkness and its focus on the gods. It honestly just blew me away. This factor was heavily influenced by Sunya Mara's incredible, emotive writing. The first line of the book hooked me and I was enamored from beginning to end (and now even after the end.) The writing was phenomenal. It was so emotional and powerful, every line was precisely chosen and wielded to cut to your core. Merley House itself is an imposing 18th century mansion which has a history of ghost activity, and the first half of the day was spent exploring different parts of the house. We used traditional techniques such as pendulums and Ouija boards to reach out to Ghosts as well as more modern techniques such as the Ghost hunt app (samples of which can be seen in the video below.)

Do you require all the world’s love as proof of your worth? Must they all honor you before you can honor yourself?” But Vesper is such a powerful character! She has such an iron will, can be a bit prideful, is loving but keeps boundaries and I love it. She was so independent but I really appreciate how in the end, she still needed others help because at the end of the day, none of us are infallible. Even arm herself with her father's book of dangerous experimental magic. Even infiltrate the prince's elite squad of soldier-sorcerers. Even cheat her way into his cold heart.I bite my tongue. If Dalca doesn't like someone who looks like him, talks like him, has all of the same memories. . .that's his own problem.

The twists and betrayals were well done and even caught me of guard and the final battle was well thought out. The ending felt satisfying and complete, like there was still story to be told, but that was to be left with the characters now, as the readers have had their fill.Ah, of course. It’s mandatory for the naive, impulsive and self-sacrificing YA heroine to dive head-first into any burning building she encounters.