I was really confused at first because there was things from the first book in this. It took me longer than it should have to realize this was Lydia's perspective of everything.
Lydia somehow ends up on the dark shores where she meets killian. He is marked by the gods.
I found this book more enjoyable and I think the 3rd book will be great when we get everybody's point of view.

Dark Skies is Lydia’s story. We learn what happened to her after her ordeal in the first book and we also learn more about the world and politics concerning the countries of the Dark Shores. I have to say, both books have amazing covers. Even without reading the synopsis, you will be tempted to grab the book just for the remarkable covers.

The plot-line was intriguing, knotted with curve balls that you would not see coming. Surprising secrets embedded deep were revealed at the optimum time, adding value to the story. I found the plot-line well-crafted and with enough complications to keep you reading.

The main characters in Dark Skies were Lydia and Killian and the story was shared between their viewpoints. I loved Killian. He wasn’t perfect, he had his flaws, but he accepted them and he tried his best to do the right thing. He was honorable. The author wrote his character so well, I totally fell for him.

I had high hopes for Lydia, especially with how much she loved books but sadly, I found myself disliking her. I found her annoying and weak. Her stupidity and her reasoning frustrated me. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about her and it would be hard to disclose them all without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say, she did not deserve Killian.

From what I observed with both books, Dark Shores, and Dark Skies, I find that the author did a great job with the key male characters but a poor job with the female MCs. I would have loved the books better if the female MCs had been worthy of the male MCs.

Dark Skies is the second book in the Dark Shores series. It actually runs parallel to the first book but with different perspectives. We have Lydia and Killian as our main leads but I loved how it weaves in out of the first book.

I read the two books back to back and so the string of the plot just kept going for me. I loved it. I loved how well the two tie together. I don’t always like books that happen in the same world. Usually because I’m loyal to whatever characters I read first but Dark Skies complements Dark Shores perfectly. We spent a lot of time in Dark Shores in Cel, it’s legions and the clans of the West. Where in Dark Skies we spend most of our time in the West and in Mudamora.

There is a lot of politics and war but it’s not over done. It’s all interesting and I love how the tie in to the first book makes you want to know more. You had glimpses of things and now you are fleshing out the story you already know. It’s very well executed and keeps you reading. This doesn’t feel like a second book at all. In a way it’s a first book all over again.

Killian is by far my favorite character in this installment. I think he is such an easy character to feel camaraderie with. He’s got a lot on his plate but he is kind and thoughtful. Also he is god marked for war so he is a strategist and the wheels are always turning in his head.

Lydia is a spoiler in herself so if you haven’t read the first book….although I know if you read the first book you already suspected. Instead of starting with Teriana we start with Lydia at the same place we started the last book. It was interesting to see her perspective on things that we’ve already read. I do like Lydia. She has this different kind of fierceness from Teriana. I think it’s why they compliment each other as friends. I don’t think her basic character really changes from beginning to the end of the book but I do think she finds her place in the world. Feeling like an outcast her whole life.

Even though Malahi is not a perspective in this story. I really enjoyed her character, even the ups and downs with it.

I loved the Dark Skies and I love the Dark Shores series so far. I’m excited for the next book to see what the perspectives will be and how things will start flowing in the same vein.

Danielle L Jensen can do no wrong!! I will forever love her stuff. Pirates, magic, mayhem, and war.

I have forever loved her Stolen Songbird trilogy and go into the rest of her books with really high expectations. I’m not sure if I like this series as much as the Stolen Songbird one but it has amazing potential and I can’t wait to see what comes of her future work!

I read the first book a few months ago and i very much enjoyed it so of course, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Dark Skies.

This book is fantastic. I actually found it to be better than the first one.

I love the story and I was hooked from the very beginning.

Dark Skies is a companion novel to Dark Shores that can be read independently of the first book, which was exactly what I did. This book is a tightly spun story with betrayals, political intrigue, and forbidden romance. Killian Calorian has been chosen by the god of war to defend his country, but when a new enemy overruns Mudamora's borders, he's barely saved from execution when he swears to be the crown princess's sworn sword. Lydia is the daughter of an ailing politician. When she finds herself engaged to the most powerful senator in the land, she's finds herself in grave danger. When a murder plot goes awry, Lydia is catapulted into Killian's land, and together, they must survive the deadly politics of Mudamora's elite and save an entire kingdom from destruction, or lose their lives in the process.
Dark Skies is nothing short of brilliant. It is full of twists and turns that kept me riveted and on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. I loved the vast variety of characters in this novel and the way they intertwine. They aren't perfect characters, but they are achingly real and authentic. The world-building and the politics of both Mudamora and Celendor were masterfully developed and was an astonishing thing to behold. I loved watching Lydia and Killian as fate pushes them together. I'm a sucker for forbidden love, and their bond gave me all the feels. That ending was also pretty heartrending. Dark Skies was such a good fantasy, one about the actions and their consequences, and how our true fate may not be the one we imagine--and how those moments can be life-changing and what you need. Thanks to Tor for letting me read this!

Dark skies had it all, political intrigue, manipulation, love, survival, religion, a kind of young main characters.

I mean everything. The book is the second in the Dark Shores series.

I haven’t read the first but it appears as though this series, while interconnected, each book is its own thing. I THOUGHT I had read stuff by Danielle Jensen before but apparently not. Either way I’m going to now. The descriptions were off the chart and the setting was just wow. I felt like I could smell a good portion of the book. It didn’t smell good. I didn’t like it lol.

The “love triangle” that seemingly appears out of nowhere is exactly that. Manipulation at it’s finest. The characters involved, totally unaware of it. It’s honestly super well written, I ain’t even mad. Killian and Lydia, the main characters, were absolutely amazing in their roles. They were young but you couldn’t tell. And it wasn’t young like 13 or something like that. They were 19 and 18(I think) respectively. Old enough to know their way around the world but young enough to still have ideals and dreams and still want to save it. To still do their part.

It is a mish mash of character and plot driven and it is done so well I ate the book up. It was sooooo good. I can’t talk much more than I already did because I’m liable to slip and tell y’all spoilers and that ain’t cool. Though it’s on sale now so maybe you should get it.😁

Well... not what I was expecting at all.
Let me just say that I gave 3 stars not because it is a bad book (it is not, it is actually beautifully created) it is just... not my cup of tea. What was a let down for me, because I was really eager to read it. In contrast to Dark Shores, Dark Skies has a lot more of political intrigues, war battles and drama. Christ, so much drama... And that killed it for me.

The second book in the Dark Shores series brings us Lydia's story, running parallel to the events of the first book. Lydia, who was to marry Lucius Cassius, is instead the catalyst to the discovery of the Dark shores by the latter; he tries to have her killed via Marcus, but instead she escapes via an unknown xenthier crystal stem and reaches Mudamora. The other PoV is from Killian, a lord of the one twelves houses of Mudamora, and a Marked warrior of Tremon, which makes him important to the country's defenses. However, when he fails to stop an invasion at the border, he is stripped of his duties and instead forced to swear himself to the princess' guard. As war rages through Mudamora and threatens to reach its capital, Mudaire, Killian finds himself stuck in the politics between the houses.

Lydia's entry into a kingdom where all Marked are conscripted into service wouldn't be as dangerous as if she hadn't herself been marked as a healer when she tries to save Killian's life. Now a useful ally in detecting the Corrupted, he offers her a place in the princess' guard, a group made entirely of women, save for him as their captain. Lydia has to keep a low profile and not be caught as a healer to be taken into conscription, until she can find a way out of the closed city and back to Celendrial shores to save Teriana, but as we know from the first book, her urgency is sort of wasted since Teriana is already on the Dark shores. As she helps Killian and trains under him, they sort of become close, but Killian himself is bound by his duty and is too honorable to shirk it. Additionally, both of them have guilt for something bad happening because of their choices, so they both cling more to the things they have to do, which I found a refreshing concept, if a bit frustrating because the ship can't fully sail.

The plot is heavily focused on the war between the Corrupted and Mudamora, and the political situation in Mudamora as a result. The princess Malahi wants to dethrone her father for incompetence and make herself Queen, but she needs the support of the other houses. Killian's older brother, who is the High Lord of their house, is also playing games, and Killian is piece on the board for the both of them. The intrigue is wholly entertaining, to see what would come out of the machinations between the king, the princess and the lords. The city, meanwhile is starving, with supply routes disrupted, and as the blight spreads further inward, their situation becomes dire. That is to say, most of the important plot points actually happen in Killian's PoV, and he has a bigger role to play in the storyline. On the other hand, Lydia's doesn't feel that important of a role in this book, because firstly she has only stepped into this mess accidentally and most of her actions are to help Killian rather that develop her own story; while she still narrates some important parts, eventually it feels like she didn't have much to do in the story. I hope that changes in the next installment, as the two of them once again go on diverging paths.

First, a bit thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Now on to the good stuff...

This book was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! I read and really enjoyed Dark Shores but this book...wow it was just so much more for me! In Dark Shores, I was always drawn more to the quiet but lovable bookworm that is Lydia. When I learned that this book was going to be partly from her perspective I knew I needed to have it ASAP! Lydia's journey throughout Dark Skies had me laughing, biting my nails and constantly rooting for this girl that everyone wanted to underestimate. But Lydia showed them all that with her fierce determination she could do anything she set her mind to...well almost anything.

The second POV in Dark Skies is the dashing newcomer, Lord Killian Calorian. To say I am fond of Killian would be a gross understatement. He is my new favorite...along with every other man Danielle has ever created...think she'd make one for me?? Killian is marked by the war god but when he suffers a terrible defeat he becomes the sworn guard to the Princess of Mudamora. But with the Princesses' own ambitions plus the terrible blight that is destroying everything living in it's path, Killian is in for more than he could ever imagine.

Dark Skies takes place parallel to the events in Dark Shores, which is such a unique way to tell a story and is PERFECT for this series. The storyline in this book had me constantly on edge about what was going to happen next. There was plenty of action and fighting of deimons and other terrible things but also A LOT of political games. I loved that until the very end I was still trying to figure out who was in league with who and what political gain this person wanted. Honestly, I am STILL trying to figure out the web of lies and corrupting that Danielle created with this book. I definitely have a theory or two about certain things but I'll keep those to myself for now!

I cannot recommend this book (and Dark Shores) enough!! If you are a fan of Danielle Jensen this book will be right up your alley because it contains EVERYTHING we have come to love from one of her books, including some EXTRA slow burn romance (like seriously Danielle do you make it extra long on purpose to drive your readers insane?? Because kudos to you it works very well!!). I cannot wait for the third book, Gilded Serpent, to come out but March of 2021 is going to be a looooong wait!!

I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Up front, I really enjoy Danielle Jensen's work. I was eager to read this book as I had recently finished the first book from the series, Dark Shores. I actually ended up enjoying this one more. Jensen does a great job of blending human characters in interesting situations with detailed settings.
This book focuses on a character introduced in the first book and follows her journey and story while it runs in parallel to the previous book. The book flows well and I didn't find myself getting bored, nor did I find any points of the book that were difficult to get through. It was smooth from start to finish. As always I could have gone for a longer book.
I feel like I might have enjoyed this book more as the main characters were not, for most of the book, working against each other. The additional world building and understanding in this book were helpful as you were learning, to a degree, with one of the main characters.
Lydia does grow throughout the book, and it's nice to see her making hard choices and growing as a character. And as much as I was rooting for Killian and Lydia, it was also great to have the characters make choices that are not, to a certain degree, selfish. They choose to do things they believe in, and choose to do things that matter to them, rather than just running after each other constantly.
While there are some fairly predictable points, even if they haven't been actually revealed, I am still looking forward to how that will be done.
I will have to reread this book to be ready for the 3rd novel coming next year.

This is now my favorite read in 2020 so far. What a FANTASTIC book! Danielle outdid herself yet again. She never ceases to amaze me. Such a talented author and I'm just over the moon happy with how this book turned out to be.

I was hooked instantly, right from the very start. And every page that came after the first one, dragged me deeper and deeper into the beautiful abyss of this wonderfully exciting, interesting, and dark world Danielle managed to develop even more so compared to Dark Shores. There's more fantasy elements, more darkness and more beautiful writing... I couldn't get enough!

And the characters... They are so wonderful! Killian is my new obsession now - be still my beating heart. Somehow Danielle’s been capable of outdoing herself when it comes to creating book boyfriends that I keep falling harder and harder for. Everytime when I think she can’t ‘beat’ the last one, she proves me wrong. Killian is strong, brave, kindhearted and caring and so much more.

And Lydia was also truly interesting. She kept surprising me all throughout the book. I loved how adamant and determined she was in not giving up, in trying to keep learning new things and survive.

In general, our main characters are both such loveable, interesting and well developed characters < exactly what I'm hoping to get in a new read.

There's a fantastically written slow burn romance. There's more in depth world building, more fantasy elements, more action and adventure. And then also of course; the beautiful and enthralling writing by Danielle.

It's hard to put into words a book that had me feeling ALL THE FEELS like this one did. This is a book that I enjoyed so incredibly much, into the deepest part of my fangirl soul and a book that I felt a connection with right from the start. I sat on the edge of my seat the entire time. This story had me swooning, aching, crying, laughing and shocked in the best way possible. There aren't enough words to do this perfectly written book justice. What a thrilling read this was.

Danielle Jensen never disappoints. Intrigue, romance, adventure, Dark Skies has it all. I can’t wait for more!

I'm not going to lie. When I first started reading Dark Skies I was a little confused. I had no idea who the characters were. I had thought that this story was a continuation of the first in the series, Dark Shores. What I didnt know what was that Danielle L. Jensen did something brilliant and made Dark Skies more a companion novel, in that it follows the same time line as the Dark Shores with different characters. You can choose to start the series with either book. I wish that I had known that in advance of reading but once I had it figured out I was hooked.
This book is fast paced, easy to read and completely engaging. I really liked the magic system. It's not unique but it is really well done. I found Dark Skies to be darker and more gritty than Dark Shores. It has more of an epic fantasy vibe but with the readability of a YA. I would recommend reading Dark Shores first because even though it was really good in its own right I found Dark Skies to be more exciting and if I would have read them the other way around I feel like I would have been disappointed.
Overall I really enjoyed this book despite the initial confusion, which is really my fault for not reading the blurb. I am incredibly sad that I have to wait for the third installment. I am excitred to see how Danielle L, Jensen brings all four characters together in the next installment.

What in gods named just happened?! Seriously?!

I think that's it. That's the entirety of my review. I honestly can't come up with anything more to say.

Okay, I'll try.

Dark Skies was everything I didn't expect. I've read Dark Shores and LOVED it. I went into this one thinking it could not possibly be better than its predecessor. But boy, was I wrong. So. Effin. Wrong.

I don't know what to tell you but Dark Skies was filled to the brim with action and excitement and gore and blood and political maneuvers and cunning characters and unexpected turns. There was so much brilliance in this book I could not keep up. I love that it was lengthy. I love that I didn't know who to trust or root for. I love that it was so freakin' addictive. I love its complexity. I love its barely there but I'm-fully-invested-in-it romance. I love Lydia and her bravery and loyalty and innate strength. I love Killian and his reckless determination to protect those he cares about. Jury's still out with Lena and Gwen. (Hopefully, the third book will rectify this.) I love Danielle Jensen for her brilliance.

For all the fans of Dark Shores (like I am), this is definitely not to be missed. For those who have yet to read the books, trust me, you're looking at your next obsession.


“Time itself doesn’t change people, Highness. What happens to them while it passes does.”

“My gut tells me that won’t be a problem.”
“Most men use their minds to make decisions, but you follow the advice of your innards?”

“In another life, I’d get down on my knees and beg you to come back. Might beg you not to go in the first place.”


I received an e-arc to read and review.

Dark Skies is unlike other sequels/books in a series because the author has said it can be read as book 1 as the events of Dark Shores and Dark Skies happen at the same time and involve different characters and different parts of the world. I like the flexibility, but it was a bit frustrating to not progress with the story since I’d grown to care about Marcus and Teriana.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Lydia, so the first half of the book was a little frustrating because it wasn’t advancing the story and it was about a character I didn’t care much for, even if I did suspect she didn’t betray Teriana in the first book.

I enjoyed Dark Skies, but I felt like I wanted it to be faster paced. The political issues in the region were interesting, but I felt like the story was just so slow to progress.

I am definitely going to keep reading the series because I want to know what happens next, I just don’t know that the dual beginnings worked for me

⁣Dark Skies is finally here and many of you know how much I've been dying to read this book. I was lucky enough to receive this book in advance and I DEVOURED IT!!!

Dark Skies is the second installment in the Dark Shores series. While I was prepared to get more of Marcus and Terianna, this book surprised me by introducing two new-ish characters, Lydia and Killian. Their story happens at the same time as our first heroes in Dark Shores.

Dark Skies follows the exciting adventures of Lydia, Terianna's bestie that we briefly met in Book 1, and Killian, a disgraced God-Marked soldier. In this quest, both must face more than they bargained for. This story is simply epic. First, I enjoyed reading about some events from book 1 from a different perspective, that was really interesting.

From the first pages, I was pulled into the story. Written in a dual POV, the story is fast-paced, leaving you wanting for more after each chapter. I enjoyed reading about both characters immensely, learning even more about the Gods and culture. I'm seriously amazed by how well described, thought out, and large the world is. The characters have an interesting dynamic, which made everything even better. I also very much enjoyed reading about the princess. The banter is always fun to read.

The author's writing seems effortless. I went through the pages very fast, enjoying the right balance between details and action.

The ending is.... I need Book 3 NOW! LOL

I need more books like these two in my life. Interestingly enough, I do have a little preference for this book.

This book is absolutely fantastic. One year is a long time to wait, but I'll be patient. This book is definitely one I highly recommend.

I read Dark Shores a year ago and I fell in love immediately with the world and the magic. I admit, I'm not a fan of Teriana or Marcus but I knew this series has a lot of potentials. So when an opportunity came, I couldn't waste it away and here I am, reviewing Dark Skies as a part of the blog tour by FFBC Tours. I have so many thoughts about this book but one thing stood out among anything else: DARK SKIES IS AN AMAZING SEQUEL.

I stumbled upon enough book reviews to know that the second book is harder to write than the first one. I'm not a writer myself but as a reader, I understand that statement. We, readers, expect things to be better in the sequel. Sometimes, we set those expectations too high and we'd be disappointed. But in not-so-rare times, we'd be blown away by the twists and turns of the story in the sequel. I would definitely put Dark Skies in the second category with no hesitation. If you've read Dark Shores and still hesitating whether to continue this series or not, I urge you to keep reading!

Dark Skies served me jaw-dropping battles, awesome characters, unexpected plot twists, and SO. MUCH. BLOOD.

The story was told through two perspectives, Killian's and Lydia's. The first few chapters of Lydia's POV were actually a recap of what happened in Dark Shores. I struggled a little bit while trying to get through those chapters but after that, everything went smoothly. I love both of their POVs though I prefer Killian's. The writings were beautiful and captivating. It complemented the massive world-building. I wish we'd explore more of the lands in Dark Shores in the next book!

I love how the East is completely different from the West and the fact that they didn't know each other's existence is what makes it all more fun. I couldn't stop reading until 4am! Reading this book was like seeing two different worlds facing different threats colliding into one powerful story. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Dark Skies.

Aside from the engaging plot, I love the characters! They have strong characterizations that make them felt real and alive. I love Killian, he's not your average handsome commander. He's a risk-taker that has been marked by the god of war. The way he dealt with his mistakes is very relatable and gave us another amazing character with flaws.
Lydia, my girl! She's strong, smart, and loyal. I could see myself in her and that's why her strength inspired me so much. When I remembered that she's wearing glasses, I love her even more. There are not many female characters in fantasy books who wears glasses, that's why I'm so happy I could find another one!
I love the guardswomen, they're all amazing and empowering women. I respect Malahi as a young woman and an heir to the throne. There was one moment in the book that made me see her in a new light and that part was groundbreaking!

Overall, Dark Skies was a fantastic sequel! From the first chapter, I could already tell that I'd love this book. The tension was already high from the very beginning and it was only getting better until the last page. If you're looking for a next great read with nerve-racking battles, monsters, intriguing characters, and endless political schemes, I recommend you to read this book.

I received a copy of this book via netgalley/author in exchange for a review. My review is my own.


First of all, let me say how well this book was wrote. I was instantly pulled into Killian and Lydia’s world. I was sad at first that Teriana’s story wouldn’t be continuing into this book but soon was too enthralled into this new world to care. This book takes on the side of Lydia and everything that happens to her and then brings in a new character. One that, I for one, would be head over heels for. And did fall for. Finding myself constantly screaming in my head ‘MAKE A MOVE’ I found this one to have more action than the last and kept me on edge to the very last page. This is one of those books that you sit down after reading and feel as if you’ve lost a close friend. You want more. You’re sad it’s ended. I assume (very much hope) that another book will be on the horizon for this series hopefully where the four cross paths and maybe I will see Lydia and killian together. Because I NEEEEED it to happen. Thank you so much for the chance to read this.

Review posted today across all platforms (including Amazon)- fully formatted on my website- also on Edelweiss although eArc not granted there (including Amazon. Interview with Danielle Jensen will be posted next week.

Thank you to Tor for hard copy and Netgalley ARC.

Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) by Danielle Jensen is a special kind of stand-alone sequel return to the world started in Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1). Another example of stand-alone sequels is The Book of Ambha by Tasha Suri. Realm of Ash (The Books of Ambha #2) is the stand-alone sequel to Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha #1). Realm of Ash starts shortly after Empire of Sand ends. Both books take place in the same worlds, with familiar character crossover. Either book can be read alone or in sequence. They are both incredible books.
While both series are similar in that either book can be read first, there is a striking difference. Jensen put a brilliant twist on the timeline. She ditched the traditional timeline between book one and book two. Rather than setting Dark Skies just after Dark Shores ended. She wrote their timelines parallel to each other. Easily put, rather than Dark Shores running from 2000-2001, and Dark Skies from 2001-2002, they both run from 2001-2002.
This should allow readers to follow the story lines in each book simultaneously, no matter which is read first. In doing so, I would argue that Jensen has gone a step further in providing readers greater ease and enjoyment in choosing which book to read first, while also providing her a sea of creative possibilities as the series progresses. Rather than painting herself into a corner.

Whether intentional or not? It provides a backwards, intrinsic way to revisit key plot points from Dark Shores is naturally built in for those who read Dark Shores a year or more ago, without slowing it down in the slightest (also providing those events in more depth and from a different point of view).
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Oh, The Places You'll Go
Look. I can follow a map. I don't even mean like GPS on the phone. Like off the beaten trail, back roads, let me run into some alpacas and llamas, kind of maps. Ms. Jensen? She has whole worlds and maps in her mind that I just don't understand. I imagine she doesn't paint her walls because she just writes all over them. Drawing maps and provinces, and landscapes. Maybe, we should just all chip-in and buy the woman an etch-a-sketch.

Astonishingly, starting in Dark Shores and continuing to the expanded world in Dark Skies? Nothing becomes watered down. Jensen just keeps on rolling with it. The creative well has no end in sight. Each time we are transported to a new place it jumps off the page and comes alive. This isn't just accomplished through what you pictured in the mind. The atmosphere and the people that inhabit each place. Hell, I could feel the humid heat in Celendrial one minute and the freezing, gusting winds of Mudamora, the next (without the "taking twenty pages to describe a tree" syndrome). Jensen sucks in all five senses to truly immerse you in each place visited. And it is astonishing.

The blight and deimos function as characters, and settings. They solidify the creepy atmosphere in Mudamora, infuse terror in its citizens and demonstrate the humanity being fought off. Jensen utilizes them to present an infiltration of the land and each person it infects or attacks.

The Corrupter/ed led by Rufina escalates to a climactic battle that busted off the page cinematically. You remember what that feels like? Going to the movies?

Lone Wolf Section
Remember I said this: I will die on this hill.
In my review of Dark Shores, I commented on how much depth the lead and secondary characters had, right from the beginning. This remains true for Dark Skies. It isn't just cross-over characters that have a heavy presence that feels multi-layered. New lead and secondary characters are dynamic, and messy. They face cruel situations in the moment. Long-term, they know that the mess coming their way in the long term will be 2020 levels of mess. It is coming with a quickness. You are gut punched for them and all those that surround them, right off the bat.

Killian. Oh, Killian. His character arc is just a mess. Don't take that to mean it is written poorly. I mean he is the cinnamon roll and you will root for him. It isn't even that he does stupid things that you want to slap him for. It is more that no matter what he does? The odds are forever not stacked in his favor. Feed the poor at night, get past the political games he hates, ignore everyone who says he's a disappointment, try to save a country and the hits keep coming.

He isn't perfect. Not by a long shot. The boy has demons as destructive as the blight tearing through Mudamora. He is fighting them, for everything he is worth and trying to make them right and do the right thing. People need to get out of his way. It is a dark and lonely road he has to walk. Keep him company, will you?
Lydia. It is harder to talk about Lydia without spilling all the tea. Her character arc is just all of the things. All Lydia knows is that at the start of Dark Skies? She knows nothing. Where does she belong? Who is she? What is her purpose?

This is her journey and her character ARC. It is often one step forward and two steps back, which is frustrating. Her strength is her ability to keep going. Rarely does Lydia have a choice where there is an obvious right answer. Throughout Dark Skies she is being ripped in half between two choices. Until she finds her answers to the questions above? It will be a heartbreaking journey.

Princess Malahi- Remember when I said I would die on this hill? I'm good being the Lone Wolf. Malahi is my favorite character in Dark Skies. If you haven't read Dark Skies, yet? Remember I said this and when you do read Dark Skies? Come back and talk to me. If you have read it? Come at me. It is cool. This is a testament to Jensen's writing. There is not one character no that isn't true. Purely evil and good characters exist. There are mostly flawed characters in Dark Skies and Malahi is one of them. I would have like to see a few chapters from her point of view. I will say no more.

The princess' guard- AH! I love them all. What a fun bunch of strong, trained warriors. The stories their backgrounds represented, that you could start from nothing and become one of the royal guard. They were a sisterhood and they had Princess Malahi's back and each other's back.
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Themes

Like Dark Shores there are some incredibly heartbreaking themes that tear your heart to shreds. Lydia, Killian, Princess Malahai, and others are forced to make excruciating and impossible decisions throughout Dark Skies. If you are familiar with the plot of Dark Shores and the torture that Marcus and Teriana went through with the decisions, they had to make? This ups the ante, tenfold.

Trusting your gut is a huge theme throughout Dark Skies, with the main characters but especially with Killian. Right from the beginning of the book, he ignores his gut and it starts a chain of events. Killian's gut screams at him, throughout the book and he is either overruled by outside influences, or he talks himself out of it. Then, it goes spectacularly wrong. Learning to trust your gut is a huge point of contention for Killian and Lydia, along with others. Whether or not they ever do and what happens? Read the book.
Figuring out what your purpose is, place is, and who you are? That isn't just Lydia's struggle. It is the most blatant in Lydia's story. Others are dealing with it as well. Some need to figure out how to do what is truly right versus what is righteous, which is not always the same. Something I think I learned through these story lines, and maybe the characters did, as well? Just because something walks like a duck and quacks like a duck? That doesn't mean it is a duck. It could be a shapeshifter (there aren't any shapeshifters or ducks for that matter in Dark Skies. I'm just making a metaphor up).
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What Now?
That is the million-dollar question. There are conversations between Lydia and characters from Dark Shores, and many revelations come to light. Details that as readers we knew would have devastating consequences on Teriana and Marcus. Whether or not that all merges together in the next book? We don't know. There are now have three huge stories going on.
1. Marcus/Teriana are still hanging on to dear life with the 7th God on the other side of the Dark Shores.
2. The mess formally known as Celendrial.
3. Lydia is on the road.
4. Killian has been reassigned to help rebuild Mudamora, which *technically* only has an interim king

Aye! Whatever comes next? I'm sure Jensen will bring it brilliantly!