Dark Skies
4 stars
I feel like this book is so underrated. I feel like I haven’t heard anything about it. It was so wonderful. I loved it more than the first one! It was more like an extension of the first instead of a continuation. It was so great. I definitely recommend reading them back to back though! I just love the characters, it was so action packed from the very first sentence! It’s definitely a nail biter and they have a lot more at stake but I was here for it! Such a great fantasy adventure story! Highly recommend 💗

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Dark Skies follows Lydia and Killian along the same timeline as Dark Shores. Trying to hide her newly marked gift, Lydia is on a quest to return to the East and try to save her father and friends before it’s too late.

Not realizing this was a sequel, I first went back to read the first book of the series (something that is not strictly necessary, although likely would be before continuing on the the upcoming third book). Perhaps best about this book is the insinuation that a woman can not be held back when they have a mind to do something. Whether it’s claiming a crown or saving a city from disease and hunger, women are a power to be recommend with. Of course having a god-of-war-touched male at your back doesn’t hurt, especially when he’s gorgeous. Be warned though, the ending is infuriating because, as part of a series, there must of course be a ......
Cliffhanger.

I really enjoyed the first book of this series and thought that this was a very solid second, even though it was quite different and more political. I really enjoyed Lydia's story and character. I find it so interesting the way this series is laid out and how you can start reading from either book. I am really looking forwards to the third book to see how the two stories tie together and hopefully see more or Lydia and Teriana working together.

3.5 stars. This was really hard to get into- it wasn’t until chapter 19 or so that it got my interest. At first I really couldn’t stand Lydia, but slowly came to like her once she started proving herself. I loved Killian but was disappointed that the romance was almost non existent. The cliffhanger was huge too.. still, looking forward for the next installment.

That's it? That's what almost 500 pages leads up to? What a disappointment...

Writing style: I really liked Jensen's writing in Dark Shores, but in Dark Skies many parts were dragging and boring and I could not keep my mind focused well. She could've written it much better.

Characters: I didn't feel anything for any character... If they had all died I wouldn't have cared. Killian and Lydia were so bland and there was no fire between the two even if they're supposed to be a slow burn romance...

Story: The story had so much potential, but it was lacking in every way. It was bland, boring, uninteresting... I had a lot of trouble keeping my mind on the book. I'll probably forget the story by the end of the month.

The only reason I didn't DNF this book is because it's my third read of 2021 and I already DNFed another book... I really don't know where I got the strength to push through this book. What a disappointment. Dark Skies gets 1,5 stars from me.

Wow!! This series is only getting better and better.

Dark Skies is a knockout. It could actually be interchangeable with Dark Shores, but I'm glad I had the foundation of lore background so I could focus on understanding how the West differs in comparison. Dark Skies really worked on some of the elements that Shores lacked for me, and solidified it as a favorite series of 2020. It mitigates some of the high-tense grimdark tones of its predecessor with a standout cast of loveable, witty characters. I loved stepping away from the harshness of Teriana and Marcus's situation and instead getting familiar with the more medieval style Mudamora. I loved that while the tone was less severe, the characters still need to work hard for every day they survive. Living in this world is no picnic. The gruesome politics, flying demons, life-draining Corrupted warriors, and violent oppressed populace make it no easy feat to get through unscathed. Killian and Lydia, our chosen heroes, have chemistry, plain and simple. Once again, there is an element of power disparity and a cautious partnership, but seeing them get closer tugs at the heart strings.

There is a distinct element of refinement to this story that was lacking for me in Dark Shores. I honestly can't think of a reason not to give it 5 stars since it was just so entertaining and interesting to read. I can't wait for the story to come together in the finale.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for the arc!

This book was so amazing! You can actually read this before Dark Shores in case you are more interested in this synopsis. I had no idea! I actually read Dark Shores first. The storylines in both books run parallel to each other.

We follow Lydia who we were introduced to in the beginning of Dark Shores. I was so excited to learn more about her. I won’t go into too much detail because *spoilers* but I loved that there was lots of action and mutual pining! The political storyline is very prominent like the first book and the world building continues to be one of my favourite parts of this series. Also, the girl power is strong in this series!

The third book will be tying the two storylines together and I am preordering right after I post this.

Rather than a sequel to ‘Dark Shores’, ‘Dark Skies’ is a parallel storyline to ‘Dark Shores’. Therefore, you can read either book first. Despite that, I read the books according to publication order (Dark Shores first and then Dark Skies) and found that the narratives are intertwined and that the books build upon each other, filling in more information which I greatly appreciate.

Told in dual POV, we follow Lydia, a runaway scholar and Killian, a disgraced military officer.

I needed a moment to gather my thoughts on this one and I've been mulling over this for a while. Here goes:

Writing:
Jensen’s writing is amazing, as usual. The book is fast-paced, keeping you engaged and invested in the characters and plot. I appreciate how Jensen delves into the story, ramping up the tension. I found myself rushing through the pages in anxious anticipation.

The world-building is rich with vivid details and imaginative structures whilst still being believable. I found the magical system is intriguing and I liked how horrendous the monsters were.

Characters:
I liked Lydia’s growth. Despite everything, she’s brave and determined and I really appreciated how determined Lydia was. It was interesting seeing the story unfurl from her perspective. Also, it was refreshing to see a character wear glasses in a fantasy novel (especially the main character). I also enjoyed the dynamic between Lydia and Killian.

Enjoyment:
Overall, this was an entertaining read and I am so excited and ready to see what will happen next! I will admit I really missed Terriana and Markus in this book. This may be a personal preference, but I did enjoy Terriana and Markus more than Lydia and Killian. However, I’ve come to appreciate Lydia as a character. Also, I did enjoy Lydia and Killian’s interactions and their slow-burn dynamic. I’ve come to appreciate Lydia as a character. I’m so ready for the next book!

There is a lot of political intrigue in this book, so if you’re a fan of that, I’d highly recommend this to you!

CW: war, violence

Recommended for: fans of YA Fantasy, Danielle L. Jensen, political schemes, adventures, Roman Empire influenced stories

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (TOR Teen) for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I ADORE THIS BOOK AND DANIELLE IS AMAZING WOW

I cannot recover from this book, it destroyed me. It was just that good.
I have no words: JUST BUY THIS SERIES

Dark Skies is a companion novel to Dark Shores, which I definitely did not realize before starting. Both novels take place simultaneously, just with a different cast of characters and set in a different part of the world. I absolutely loved Dark Shores so I was excited to be able to dive headfirst into Dark Skies. It took me a while to adjust to the new characters, particularly because I’d loved Teriana and Marcus so much.

Lydia and Killian were both interesting characters but I definitely connected with Lydia more. I didn’t quite feel the romance (it’s very much instantly-love) but I think it’ll be better developed in future novels. Also, the pacing was a bit slow up until the second half of the book. The second half of the book flew by, I loved how everything came together.

While I didn’t quite enjoy this one as much as Dark Shores, it’s definitely still worth a read! I can’t wait to continue with this series and sees what happens next.

I didn't like Dark Skies as much as the first book. I found this one to be super hard to get in to and I just found myself uninterested.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing my to review Dark Skies in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story. I know that Lydia and Killian aren’t the favorite couple, I still adored them! I loved that Lydia was always talking about/looking for her spectacles. It was just really adorable and I loved the plot and character developments.

I do wish that the ending would have stopped right before the queen pulls Lydia aside... the last 20ish pages just seemed misplaced.

I’m so excited for book 3 and can’t wait to see where this story takes us!

Thank you, NetGalley, Tor, and Danielle Jensen, for a complimentary of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

First things first, just like Dark Shores, this cover y'all!!!! Look at it!!!! Isn't it gorgeous????? I actually picked Dark Shores because of the cover. I ended up loving the book as much as I would love a child ;-) Dark Shores swept me off my feet with all its characters, its world building, and the entire story. The two main characters are so human with all their flaws, all the evil and the good they have done. They are rough and tough on the outside, but vulnerable on the inside.

So, I was super excited when I saw that there would be a sequel. I follow Danielle on Facebook. That's why I knew that she believes that you could read the books in any order you like. However, I'd say in order to understand some of the context and events, I would recommend reading Dark Shores first. I had high hopes for this book. I felt that Lydia did need her own storyline. I have to admit, though, that I didn't love Lydia and Killian as much as I love Teriana and Marcus. I just felt more chemistry and I loved the back and forth between Teriana and Marcus. Lydia and Killian's relationship just didn't tickle me quite as much as the Teriana and Marcus' relationship. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book a lot and can't wait for the next book in the series!!!

"With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned."

Have to admit, I was confused at first and wondered if this book was a mix up of Book 1. It was such a surprise to realize it was the same story different viewpoint. It was a fresh perspective and was a great vantage point.

I requested this based on the cover and the fact that it was about pirates, and it didn't disappoint. I loved every minute of this book and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

The book starts with events we already read about in the first book, but is told from different perspectives. This made it a bit slow at first, but still interesting enough to proceed. The book picks up after this and we get an entirely new story with new, amazing characters. The world building is great and both the politics and battles are equally well written. This was a very entertaining read.

I always worry when an author writes a sequal to a really great novel because they are hard to live up to, however that is not the case with Dark Skies - it was the perfect blend of pirates, romance, adventure and fantansy! On top of this, there were amazing battle descriptions, plot twists I did not see coming and tons of blood - seriously, if you haven't read these, you must! I want to say more, but I don't want to spoil anything. Well done Danielle L. Jensen, you created an amazing world to sink into.

I Adored this book. It had me hooked from page one. Drawing me in and making me feel as if i was there living it myself. It is one of my top reads for this year by far