- Published on
- Shalini
- in Book Posts, Book Reviews, Digital Reads Media, Digital Reads PR, Digital Reads Reviews, Fiction
Publication Date: July 2022
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Blurb
The only hope for a city trapped in the eye of a cursed storm lies with the daughter of failed revolutionaries and a prince terrified of his throne.
Vesper Vale is the daughter of revolutionaries. Failed revolutionaries.
When her mother was caught by the queen’s soldiers, they gave her a choice: death by the hangman’s axe, or death by the Storm that surrounds the city and curses anyone it touches.
She chose the Storm. And when the queen’s soldiers—led by a paranoid prince—catch up to Vesper’s father after twelve years on the run, Vesper will do whatever it takes to save him from sharing that fate.
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.
But when Vesper learns that there’s more to the story of her mother’s death, she’ll have to make a choice if she wants to save her city: trust the devious prince with her family’s secrets, or follow her mother’s footsteps into the Storm.
My Review
What was it all about
The Darkening by Sunya Mara was an action-fantasy that brought a thrill in nearly every chapter.
A city surrounded by the darkening storm and divided into zones with a Regia as a reigning queen, it was all up to a common girl Vesper to find a way out through the impending danger.
Amidst this threat, her Pa was captured by the royal soldiers Wardana, a budding romance with the son of Regia, learning how to cast spells with ikons (insignia), along with the dark dreams of her mother in the heart of the storm.
How it made me feel - The Good
An idea I whole heartedly applauded – this was a complete story where all the major plots were linked in beautifully, barring the last scene through which a book 2 could happen.
The book had more of thrilling scenes rather than romantic ones, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. All other emotions of love, friendship, fear, anger, desperation, finally strength were richly encapsulated within its pages.
A detailed story was this where the writing showed the depths in characters along with layers in plot line. There was teamwork, then there was leadership and coming into power.
Curses, old Gods of the past, a rich history, political drama and revolution, along with a need to do good even in morally gray characters. The book had a lot of nuances that in every reading would reveal its power.
The Bad
I found a few things like her knowledge about ikons not well developed.
The worldbuilding needed slightly more detailing as I would have loved to know more about the zones for me to feel pathos for the residents as Vespar did.
The Conclusion
This was a read inspired after the review of my insta-friend. Hoping for book 2 to know the journey they take.
I downloaded the digital version of the book from an online retail, and this is my journey down its pages, straight from the heart. STRICTLY HONEST and UNBIASED.
If you’ve loved the review, buy me a cuppa to perk me up.
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