<i>A huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Danielle L. Jensen for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

4.5/5

Full disclaimer: I expected this to be a sequel to Dark Shores, a book I loved so much. It was a tough pill to swallow when I started reading only to find out it is not, in fact a sequel. So, don't go into this like I did! You can start with either Dark Shores, or Dark Skies! Though I have to admit, reading them in publication order works best for me in this case, given what you get to know in each book about each character. But hey, it can work either way so if you read them the other way around, let me know what you thought!

So, having said that: I loved Dark Skies! Perhaps even a little more than Dark Shores, but don't tell Teriana and Marcus I said that.

In this book we follow Lydia and Killian, two people from opposite sides of the world, clueless to said opposite side. In Dark Shores we learn about one side, and in Dark Skies about the other side, which I absolutely loved. Celendrial is just a horrid place and to see more of Cassius and Vibius was not something I needed haha! Man, politics are so frustrating!

Both Lydia and Killian have flaws, making them feel real and making you feel for them, <i>with</i> them. I cared about both their stories, and their goals. I just love them both! The people they encounter are complex, too, and for example I went from 'YAASS!' to 'are you for real?' when it came to Malehi. I still feel dubious about her, to be honest. Her guards however, were amazing, and Bercola was superb, too.

The ending felt very rushed, and I mean the very, very end. Everything else was very well paced, and it leads up to me wanting the sequel, just like Dark Shores did. I cannot wait!

Lydia is amazing, by the way, and I aspire to be her. To grow like her.
“I’m tired of being helpless. Of being a victim.”
I mean, come on, that is brilliant! Add to that her training to fight is nothing like the usual in novels, because she sucks at it and doesn't miraculously get amazing at it. Beautiful.

Also, Killian. I just. kjdshgjlakdf. I am so tired I can't even formulate why I love him, but his humor is right up my alley and his righteousness was surprisingly not annoying for once!

I will also fight and protect Finn and his orphans always. ALWAYS.

A few negative things, though, because no book is perfect!
- Sweat is once again pooling beneath breasts.
- Necklaces are also hanging between breasts. (what is it with that focus??)
- Once again the romance felt forced and out of nowhere. It wasn't until it was going on that I got invested, because slow-burn here is apparently going from 'he/she's handsome, we're friends' to 'I will risk all for him/her' in the flip of a page. I just miss the build up to that! But then I'd also be annoyed probably at the constant romance so who knows. I'm just difficult to please! All that matters is that I love them and them together and shipshipship (I made noises at the end of the book okay. I am a trash queen after all). Even though I will forever be sad Jensen didn't go the sapphic route with Lydia and Teriana.

So, dust off your traveling boots and get to Reath! Get your hands on this beautiful cover one way or another, or listen to the absolutely splendid audio!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan- Ton Doherty Associates for an eARC of Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen. The story kicks back and forth every chapter between Lydia and Killian. Lydia is a young woman that was adopted as a child by a Patrician Senator in the Celendor Empire and through a twist of fate, escapes a murder attempt and finds herself in a land across the sea called Mudamora. One of her friends back home remains in danger and she wishes to save her,but in order to do so she makes an unlikely ally in this new land so different from her own. Killian is a god-marked Mudamoran soldier and the son of a Lord. He provides his father and his King a great disappointment and a devastating loss of one of the land's valuable resources. He finds himself reassigned and with new responsibilities. The occupants of the new land Lydia finds herself in worship the 'six', which are six of seven gods that choose individuals to 'mark' with a special gift/power. The seventh is known as the Corruptor and is said to be taking/marking people against their will and forcing them to do his bidding. Lydia finds herself with a new life in Mudamora and it makes it difficult for her to choose what she wants to do and who she wants to help. Ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. With plot twists, betrayals, forbidden love, battle, and politics, what more could you want from a book!

Lydia is a determined, high spirited scholar. After meddling with the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire, Lydia flees to Mudamora, to save herself. Killian is the Commander of Mudamora, a man of honor, who’s marked by the God of War. So naturally high expectations and responsibilities surround him. But after The Corrupter invades Mudamora and after a series of letdowns, Killian swears his loyalty to the Crown Princess, Malahi. Series of events follow that involves Lydia and Killian, their relationship development. Even though Lydia and Killian love each other, they put what’s more important before their love and must work together against the odds to save their loved ones and right the wrong.

Dark Skies is second book in the Dark Shores series, much similar to the first one in-terms of story development. Both Dark Shores and Dark Skies are heavy on the world-building (Roman type), converging timelines, mysteries, detail characterisations and politics between main characters - Lydia, Killian in Dark Skies and Teriana, Marcus in Dark Shores. Both books can be read as a stand-alone!!

Dark Skies is magical, action packed, slow-burn love story with great characters that try to atone things. The characters are morally grey and I loved that. I liked Killian more than Lydia, his ability to be diplomatic even when his love and loyalty is put to test. the ending got me spinning for real!! Considering the story in both the books, I’m intrigued as to how the story and characters will turn out in Book 3.

Thank you Netgalley, Danielle L Jensen and Macmillan publishers for the ARC.

Hey y'all! I hope your first week of May is going well! I know some states are beginning to slowly lift stay at home restrictions, so if y'all start venturing out for more than the necessities, please make sure you're being as safe as possible! I'll probably still be staying in most of the time or if anything, visiting my brother and sister-in-law who live 10 miles away or seeing a few people for walks or dinners at home or at home movie nights. Speaking of the first week in May, yesterday was a really great day for book releases! One of those amazing books released yesterday was Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Teen for letting me read a copy of Dark Skies early! I read Dark Shores (book one in the series) last year and it was definitely highly underrated, and Dark Skies was even better than Dark Shores was! 

Dark Skies 5/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST
Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.
A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE
Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.
A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
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—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like Lydia's book- I remember finding her annoying in Dark Shores and her betrayal of the Maarin was such a blow to the face that I honestly considered skipping this book/not continuing with the series after finding out that this book was going to be Lydia's book- I'm so glad I didn't though! Dark Skies starts out at about the same time that Dark Shores starts, so they're told in parallel timelines. The chapters in Dark Skies switch between Lydia's point of view and our new character Killian's point of view. Killian is from the other other side of the world (the west side) and is "Marked by the Gods" and let's be real, that sounds like a terrible fate to have. Sure, you get special powers, but man, everyone expects so much and blames you for things that aren't anywhere close to in your control.... now that I think about it, it sounds a lot like working in corporate America (just kidding!). I loved Killian's chapters and Lydia's were a little boring at first and kind of annoying until we got to the real action where Marcus grabbed her and she almost died and BAM! her and Killian are in the same part of the world! One of my biggest issues with book one was that the pacing seemed off, but Danielle L. Jensen fixed that in book two for sure. The action there, the magic was there, there was a cute little baby love story, but it didn't take over, and OMG that ending- once y'all get there, I need you to come back and talk to me because I'm very unhappy I have to wait until March 2021 to find out what happens next. Very rarely is the second book in a series better than the first, but when it is, it shows great promise for the series as a whole, so I'm really looking forward to books three and four. Now that Dark Skies is out, make sure you pick it up at your local library or bookstore or online, and if you haven't checked out this series at all, what are you waiting for?!

After reading Dark Shores I immediately knew Jensen was going to be a favorite author of mine for a very long time. She has this uncanny ability to sweep you away into this amazing world she's created. Her writing is like butter...it's smooth and you just want more of it. Dark Skies was such a great continuation of the Dark Shores series. I just cannot get enough of this series.

This book, in a way, runs parallel to Dark Shores and, at first, I was sort of confused because we were reading some of the same scenes but I quickly realized we were getting the full backstory on Lydia. I really enjoyed her point of view and even though this is her story, we still feel her friendship with Teriana and how much she loves her friend and care for their friendship.

Lydia was an interesting character because she doesn't know how strong she is until she needs to be strong. She's been sheltered her whole life and then suddenly she's thrown into this new world where she literally has to survive on her own. I loved her character and the fight that's deep within her. I loved watching her grow into this amazing woman.

Killian is what they called 'marked by the god of war' and because of that he bears this huge burden of keeping his people safe. The world in which he lives has been turned upside down due to those called the corrupted and it's been literally one thing after another for him. I really enjoyed his character because we see and feel the empathy he has for his people and his duties as a marked.

Together, Killian and Lydia compliment each other and you feel the tension and chemistry instantly. Their relationship isn't forced at all and it really just felt like a natural progression. I loved them together so hard!

Overall, I really liked Dark Skies. It has fantasy, amazingly well written characters, with a plot that's full of wonder and adventure that will leave you wanting more! I can't wait for the next installment.

Danielle L. Jensen sure knows how to perfectly execute political intrigue. She also excels at world-building. And slow-burn romances. And characters you can’t help but root for--and ship together.

Basically, I’m telling you that you should definitely add this series to your TBR.

Do it.

Right now.

Okay, let me backup and explain a few things to you. If you like brave heroines, you should read this book. If you like heroines who are strategic rather than fighters, you should read this book. If you like badass, soft-hearted love interests, you should read this book. If you like magic, court politics, and morally grey characters, you should read this book.

Okay okay. Now for my actual review. Dark Skies is the second book in the Dark Shores series. It follows two characters: Killian and Lydia. We met Lydia briefly in Dark Shores. The author has said you can read either of these books first, and I agree. However, I personally like reading books in publication order. That being said, if you pick up Dark Skies first, you won’t be confused in the slightest. This book starts at the same time as Dark Shores just from two different character’s perspectives.

First, let’s talk about Lydia. Lydia is a scholar--not a fighter. She cannot fight which made me love her more. If I was in a fantasy book, I would definitely be a scholar. Now, while she may not be a trained fighter, she is a warrior in her own right. Lydia is resourceful, brave, and incredibly loyal. I think Danielle did an amazing job executing Lydia’s character arc in this book. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Now, let’s talk about our male lead, Killian. I knew I was going to love Killian as soon as I read his name. I’m a sucker for the name Killian (shoutout to Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time, my OG Killian). Killian is also fiercely loyal to his people and has an insanely strong moral compass. Killian is Marked by the God of War, and he takes his responsibility to his people and his kingdom very seriously. This boy, quite frankly, has the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

Throw these two together and you get a deliciously slow-burn romance. *swoons just thinking about it*

This installment was a ton of fun to read! There’s something for everyone in this book: epic fight scenes, political intrigue, romance, and magic! I was on the edge of my seat! I never knew what the side characters’ true motivations were or if they were trustworthy.

Things I liked:
- Killian was my favorite part of this book! His character is super complex, and I really cared for him. His character arc is also super great to read, as I just loved him more and more. I love his determination and his growth into his role as being marked by the God of War.
- So I loved the world when I read Dark Shores, but this book really expanded on the world building, which I though was fantastic! I felt transported to the medieval Romanesque world, and I loved learning about new places! It had lots of action, drama, and dark Gods that had me really intrigued. I also liked how the setting wasn’t like a copy cat of the one in book one. I think I may even prefer the court setting to the campy/adventure plot in Dark Shores.
- The ending really had me shocked! I won’t spoil it, but the ending was well worth the slow build up in the beginning and middle, and I absolutely cannot wait for book three!
- While I didn’t like how slow most of the book was, I did enjoy the slow burn romance. And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn! It made Lydia and Killian’s relationship seem very real and passionate! It really had me rooting for them throughout the book.

Things I didn’t like:
- I honestly really didn’t like Lydia as a character. She was really whiney and boring, and I found myself sometimes skimming her chapters. She did get better as the book continued, but I much prefer Teriana from Dark Shores.
- The beginning of the book was very confusing. It starts at the same time the first book also started. You get some of the same scenes from Dark Shores, but just in Lydias perspective. I didn’t feel like it was needed, and it only made the book harder to get into.

Overall, I enjoyed Dark Skies, but I absolutely can’t wait for book three when Killian, Lydia, Marcus, and Teriana are all together! It can’t come soon enough.

This is book 2 in the Dark Shores series.
So this book started with a dramatic first chapter and it never really stopped. So much intrigue, drama and mystery!
We follow split POVs shifting from Killian a commander who we first meet when he fails to defend his outpost and is stripped of his role. To Lydia, (the adopted daughter of a powerful but ailing senator) who escapes an unwanted arranged marriage. As these characters navigate the new situations they find themselves in, we gradually start seeing all the bigger mechanisations at play. Lydia in order to avoid one kind of danger has stumbled into a bigger one: The land she escapes to is in the middle of a war and unbeknownst to her , she has a vital role to play within it.
I found the world building fascinating, the Cel Empire has many parallels with the Roman Empire from its senators to its legions of armies, which was very well done in my opinion. While the country across the sea has a whole different feel to it, almost medieval. I loved the contrast. I especially liked the religions of this world and how magic was intertwined within them. So that a person could be favoured or "god marked" by a certain god. Resulting in them being adept in certain roles. The idea of the "corrupted" was really intriguing too.
In terms of the characters, I felt it was easy to connect with them. I LOVED that Lydia wore glasses and used them throughout the book. Killian is a honerable man, surrounded by dishonour and hard choices, I felt for him. There were plenty of characters I enjoyed hating too: The sinister Senator Cassius and the oily Vibius were portrayed so well, they made my skin crawl. (Sign of a good writer!) I have read Jensen's other works so I am familiar with her writing style, I find it to have a nice flow, and the pacing is always just right, I really liked that this book had a lot of action, allowing the plot to be more fast paced. The ending though not a full cliffhanger has enough things up in the air that I can't wait for book 3 to come out! Overall I really enjoyed it, I would recommend you read book 1 (Dark Shores) first, as characters from the first book do appear in this one too

I am quickly becoming a huge fan of Ms. Jensen's works. She has an amazing ability to not only drag you into the story itself but to also reach deeply empathic levels of laughter, sorrow and frustration with each character you meet. This is my fourth novel to read of hers and I have yet to be disappointed in any way with the two differing series (Bridge Kingdom and Dark Shores).

Dark Skies occurs at the same time as Dark Shores so it doesn't affect the story too much if they are read out of order. I enjoyed getting to know more of Lydia as she was introduced in Dark Shores, and meeting Killian. I cannot recommend this series, author, or book enough as it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience!

This is the second book in the Dark Shores series and I loved every page. I liked the first book but this one is by far my favorite. You can technically read this book first. Both books are told during the same timeline.⁣
⁣
This story is about Teriana’s best friend, Lydia and a new character Killian. Both characters are on the run. One from an attempted assassination and the other is a disgraced commander. I loved watching these two interact. It’s a very slow burn romance but that fits the book, so I can’t complain.⁣
⁣
This story centers a lot on politics. There are so many betrayals and a whole lot of scheming. It added so much tension between all the characters and it had me sitting on the edge of my seat and completely unable to put this book down.
⁣
If you’ve never read one of Jensen’s stories then you are in for a treat. This world is so dynamic and the characters are all beautifully real. I highly recommend if you love an epic fantasy!⁣ Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for the early e-book!

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher. Please also note, the below post contains spoilers for the first book in this series, Dark Shores.**

Title Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2)

Author Danielle L. Jensen

Release Date May 5, 2020

Publisher Tor Teen

Description from Amazon

A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST

Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.

A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE

Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.

A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE

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—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to be chosen for this book tour. I’ll be honest, I applied for this book on NetGalley before the tour was announced and was already reading my e-ARC when the announcement came out. Dark Shores had such an interesting premise and I loved the idea of a companion, rather than sequel novel for book 2.

Some Things I Liked

A companion rather than a sequel. I loved that the story in Dark Skies takes place at the same time as Dark Shores. It’s so refreshing to see all the unanswered questions in the first book being filled in by a different POV in the second book. The multiple POVs already give this book a richness but having twin storylines really makes me feel like I understand all angles of this world.
Lydia and her glasses. As a glasses-wearer myself, I felt like I bonded with Lydia on a unique level. Let’s be honest, fantasy novels rarely use glasses (an underrepresented group in my opinion 🤓), but I loved that Lydia felt so real. Danielle L. Jensen is so consistent with her details and I really love that about this series. The glasses are just a small representation of the air-tight plot and details this series employs.
Killian as my new book boyfriend. I really never thought I would get over the fact that Rowan Whitethorn is not only taken, but fictional. Until I met Killian. He’s my new fave. Danielle L. Jensen once again has a serious talent for writing characters that I desperately wish were real.
A super unique setting. The first book, Dark Shores, felt very inspired by legions and Roman history. However, Dark Skies introduced us to so much more of the western regions of Reath and I saw the inspiration grow into a totally unique world. I loved seeing this evolution.

Series Value

I can’t wait for the next book. Danielle L. Jensen just announced the title on Instagram and, drumroll please….. GILDED SERPENT will be out in the world on March 21, 2021. What will I be doing while I wait? Probably rereading Dark Shores, Dark Skies, and every other book Danielle has ever written while I wait.

But, I will DEFINITELY be reading the next book in this series.

Final Thoughts

I’m obsessed with this series. I loved everything about this book and I can’t wait for more. I love the way the series has multiple books with concurrent timelines. I also can’t wait to re-read this series (or maybe listen to them on audio the second time around) before I read the next book. This series has such high re-read potential and I can’t wait to experience that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen – so technically, Dark Skies is denoted as “book 2” in this series but both books take place at the same time. After reading both, I am confident that you could read either book first as there are no spoilers in either book that would ruin the other book. If you read Dark Skies first, I would strongly recommend reading Dark Shores next.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen – if you enjoy Danielle’s writing and you like audiobooks, I can’t recommend The Bridge Kingdom series enough. Although there are print books available now, the series was originally written to be an Audible title and the voice actors are phenomenal. Please note, The Bridge Kingdom is an more New Adult / Adult while Dark Shores leans more toward YA.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – if you liked the Roman / legion inspiration behind the Dark Shores / Dark Skies series, definitely try this quartet by Sabaa Tahir. The final book will be out this Fall.
Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen – the next book in this series is going to have all four POVs. Obviously, I haven’t read this one yet (Tor Teen, I’m ready whenever you are 😉), but I can’t wait to see what these characters get up to when all together.
Author Bio

I loved Dark Shores so when I had the chance to request an ARC for the sequel I jumped at the opportunity without a second thought.

I hadn’t read the synopsis or knew what Dark Skies would be about so I was confused when I’m faced with Killian’s POV as the first chapter since I had no clue who the heck he was. For this reason, it took me a while to get into the book. I was expecting a continuation of the previous book and this is not that, at all. If anything this book takes place at the same time as Dark Shores but from Lydia’s and Killian’s point of view.

Now, you’re probably wondering who the heck is Killian, as I did. He’s the youngest son of the High Lord Calorian who was marked by one of the seven gods. He’s one of the youngest commanders in a country called Mudamora. He’s honourable, loyal and selfless. So of course I fell in love with him immediately.

However, Lydia’s point of view on the first few chapters didn’t give us a lot of new information we hadn’t already known or guessed. The new part is what happened to her after Marcus had left the bathhouse. Now we know.

I don’t want to spoil stuff for anyone so I’ll keep what happens to myself as well as some of my theories about Lydia’s parentage (I think it’s obvious right from the start of this book who she is).

As usual, the writing was superb and the characters are complex and intriguing. This book gives us so so much world building and I was here for it 200%.

I really can’t wait for Gilded Serpent to come out. That ending left me screaming!!! I reckon reading from all four points of views will be wonderful.

I highly recommend this series to any fantasy lover! It’s full of delicious world building and amazing character with flawed personalities that you can’t help root for.

Thank you so much to Tor Teen for the advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

The two books, Dark Shores and Dark Skies, occur at the same time in the fictional world and can be read in either order. I enjoyed publication order, it made sense to learn what was "really" going on.

Here is a quick spoiler-free recap:  In Shores we read about Teriana and the Maarin traders, Marcus and the Cel legion, and the initial exploration and conquer of the Dark Shores.  Remember the puppet king of the Raiders and some larger threat that is revealed at the end? In Dark Skies, we follow Teriana's friend Lydia who we briefly met before.  We learn the truth of the betrayal, see Lydia take another route to Mudamora, and meet Killian who leads the King's forces.  This book starts in Cel but we learn a lot more about the Gods, the mystical forces, and the people of the Dark Shores.  The third book is going to be an amazing meeting of the two plot lines.

The pace is incredible. I read the first 300 pages kind of slowly but ended up taking the last half in a crazed four hour sitting where I don't think I breathed or blinked.  The intrigue, assassinations, BLIGHT ZOMBIES, reckless chases, magical evil army leaders, more scheming, and a race against a huge deadly clock just made it impossible to stop.

The magic of the world was hinted at in Shores, but in Skies we learn all about it.  The God-Marked people each have an ability like strength, healing, growing/restoring, water breathing, and it seems they were meant to create teams of people.  A great theme this is, and I appreciate the idea that healing is a drain on someones life force.  The triage they use is so interesting.  The seventh god's power is just terrifying and that will continue in book 3.

All I will say about the additional world building is that the desperation and fear are  real, the hurt is real, and the darkness is real.  The feelings of the people and the world seeping through the pages into the reader is what separates exquisite world building from the rest.

I 100% liked Lydia and Killian both a LOT more than Marcus and Teriana.  They have flawed but endlessly brave personalities, are good problem solvers, and are both loyal to no end.  I even liked princess Malahi for the most part, she had some admirable moments and the banter was hilarious between her and Killian and the female guards.  It's hard not to root for every single character in the book, including Killian's mother who is a rare gem.

The combination of great characters, more shippable romantic pairings, breakneck pace,  magic, and the intrigue of plots to end all plots make Dark Skies (and Dark Shores) a series that I absolutely 100% recommend to anyone with even the slightest interest in fantasy. Thank you so much again to Tor Teen for the advanced copy

Full review posted to blog at https://onereadingnurse.com/2020/05/05/arc-review-dark-skies-by-danielle-jensen/

This was my first Danielle L. Jensen novel, but it will not be my last! I was skeptical about reading Dark Skies before Dark Shores since it’s the second book in the series, but I’d heard you can start with either once since they take place in the same world at the same time but cover different characters in different places. I can confirm you do not need to read Dark Shores first to understand enjoy Dark Skies!

This is an epic fantasy that gave me major Game of Thrones vibes with all the plotting, scheming, politics, war, and shocking twists and turns, minus the extreme gore, sex, incest, and slow, dragging sections. The expansive worldbuilding was very well-integrated into the storytelling, and it only took a couple chapters for me to become fully invested.

I love how all of the characters, not just the MCs Killian and Lydia, are strong, complicated, and imperfect people who sometimes make wrong choices for right reasons, and vice versa. I even found it difficult to dislike some of the antagonists because their motivations were real and understandable.

I LOVE LYDIA AND KILLIAN SO MUCH! They are both such strong, determined, compassionate characters who feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. They both struggle to reconcile their personal desires and their duty to the greater good. Their relationship was beautifully and perfectly developed. They bring out the best in each other when they are together, but countless obstacles force them apart.

The last act of the book left me breathless, gasping, and teary eyed. There were SO MANY new twists and obstacles I never could have predicted. I was floored. This book was incredible. I am so excited to go back and read Dark Shores now, and I cannot wait to see where this series goes in book #3!

4.5 stars!

Dark Skies, book two of the Dark Shores series, by Danielle Jensen is a book I have been waiting to read since I turned the last page of Dark Shores. If you have not yet started this series, you definitely should. Please be warned, if you haven’t yet read book one, I don’t think I will spoil anything but you can’t hold it against me if I do.

This book runs somewhat parallel to the story in book one as this one focuses on Lydia and Killian and while at first I was all about getting more about Teriana and Marcus, Jensen made me quickly forget that line of thought and focus on these characters and I love where this story is going.

Lydia is Teriana’s best friend and she is briefly mentioned in Dark Shores, but we get her full story in this book and I loved her. Despite the fact that she’s grown up with an influential father, when Lydia when goes against the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire, she finds herself in Mudamora (nope – can’t / won’t tell you how). Unfortunately for Lydia, she ends up there in a really bad time for Mudamora…more to come about that.

Killian…I loved him. Having been Marked by the God of War, he is thought to be the one who will save Mudamora from the Corrupter and when the wall falls while he is in command and the armies invade, he finds himself in a situation where he has to rely on the crown princess to save him by having him swear his sword to her for life. This is not exactly the path Killian had in mind for himself but as he finds himself caught up in politics, he can’t stop thinking of the people and every night he goes out to do what he can to help whether that’s bringing food to orphans or saving a girl who happens to be wandering around after dark…which most know not to do.

From the moment Lydia and Killian met, I could feel the tension and the build of their relationship throughout this book was fantastically done. Lydia is in a foreign world and is desperate to get back to Celendor to help her father. Unfortunately with what is going on in Mudamora, she doesn’t have an easy solve and when she agrees to something that changes her in a big way, she finds that she has now put herself in a more dangerous position than she was before. I thought Lydia showed a lot of growth in this story. She faces a lot of tough decisions and she makes most of them based on the impact to those she loves no matter the danger she is in…all the way to the last page of the book.

The secondary characters in this book were interesting and helped to move the story along. I had so many mixed feelings about Malahi, Killian’s older brother, Hacken, needs to be punched, and I want to know more about Rufina and the Corruptor. I will be curious to see what happens next for all of these characters as well as those from book one. I am hoping they all begin to cross paths soon because of reasons.

That’s about all I can say about this book without ruining anything for anyone. Just trust me – you need to pick this one up and lucky for you, it comes out soon, so you don’t have to wait very long. If you’re looking for a series that has great characters, political intrigue, plenty of action, and swoony bits, this one is for you!

Dark Skies was exciting and adventurous in the way that only Danielle L. Jensen could pull off. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the first book and I absolutely fell in love with it, but this one, as great as it was, just didn’t ignite the same feelings that Dark Shores did. The characters weren’t nearly as interesting and catching as those in book one, and I trudged through the beginning, trying to get myself to care about everything going on. I still enjoyed the plot of this novel and I’ll continue to recommend these books.

I loved this book, the writing, the plot, the slow and burning romance was so addictive it pushed me to read the whole book in two days (well actually in almost one night).
This book is even better than Dark shores, it's definitely worth five stars !
The first chapters were maybe a little too slow and it took me a while to get into the story, but I noticed it was the case in all the books by Danielle L. Jensen that I've read, however when they start I cannot stop reading.
Finally, I really recommend this book, it was a great and very addictive read that I would be happy to reread.

I cannot believe how much I love Killian and Lydia's story. The connections to the first book were wonderful, but this book really built up the West. I'm happy with how the author went about exploring these characters and their place in the world. If you like world-building then this series is for you. The author does that extremely well. I am so pleased that this book focused more on the Gods and the God-marked. I am very curious to see where and how things go from here. There is much story left to explore.

Dark Skies is the second novel in the Dark Shores series. If you haven’t seen my review of Dark Shores you can check it out here! I absolutely adored the first book in this series, and listened to it on audio book. So far, Dark Shores is my favorite book of 2020. Dark Skies will be available for purchase wherever books are sold, TOMORROW, May 5th! I got an ARC from Netgalley, and I preordered my physical copy from my favorite local independent bookshop.

With the first book in this series being my favorite of the year, I was excited to see how the second novel would stack up. I wasn’t worried that this would have second-novel-syndrome, because the writing and storytelling in the first book was just so good, and I knew I could trust Danielle L. Jensen to deliver. Would it be better? Would it be equal? I was about to find out.

It was definitely a much different experience reading the first book as an audio book, and the second book as an e-book. I’m a very fast reader, and because of that I can sometimes skim over words or paragraphs, and still come away with the gist of their purpose in the story. This was a skill I developed in college as an English Literature major. I would be taking three to four literature classes per semester, and in every class we were expected to read seven to ten novels. I quickly learned how to become a speed reader, while retaining the information I needed to pass my classes.

However, it’s a skill that allows me to read a lot of books in a short amount of time, but I noticed I took in a lot more information when listening to the audio book. There is no skim reading an audio book, so every descriptive scene, every explanatory prose, got soaked up into my brain, which made the first book feel so alive and visceral.

In Dark Skies we follow the same timeline as Dark Shores, but with different characters. I knew this was going to happen before I started reading, so I didn’t experience any shock or disappointment that our beloved Teriana and Marcus were seemingly absent for most of this book. They do make a few ‘appearances’ through the eyes of our new narrators, Killian and Lydia.

Thankfully, Jensen continues down the path of multiple POV, allowing us an in-depth look at both of our main characters’ thoughts and actions throughout the novel. I also noticed we switched characters more frequently in this novel (almost every other chapter) compared to the first. Once again our male character is a soldier, a character I believe the author writes exceptionally well (I mean the descriptive fight scenes, hello?!). Our female character is a politician’s (adopted) daughter and aspiring scholar, which at first was much different than following a female pirate princess. As the story progresses, we quickly learn that scholars can be badasses too, when it comes to survival.

I’ve noticed that books with repeating timelines, as seen through different character’s perspectives, can sometimes feel boring and repetitive. This novel did not give off that vibe at all, and instead filled the story we were already familiar with with even more depth and background.

I was thrilled when this novel took place on the Dark Shores, and we were able to learn a lot more about the gods/goddesses through Lydia and Killian’s experiences. Their entire story revolves around the seven deities, the blessed, and the discussion around faith.

The plot of this novel was dealing with a war between gods, in which men, women, and children were being used as pawns to suit their agenda. The seventh god was repeatedly tearing Killian and his people down, making them lose faith in their gods, themselves, and each other. It honestly was a rather depressing read. Whereas by the end of Dark Shores Marcus and Teriana had come to an agreement within themselves and regarding each other, Killian and Lydia brought together only to be pulled apart. It felt like by the end of this novel, they were both finally on the path their lives had been leading them towards, but the way they got there was convoluted and heartbreaking.

While Killian and Lydia, as well as the entire cast of Killian’s female soldiers, had rather good banter and chemistry, I did miss the camaraderie between Marcus’ men. The women in this story were thrust together last minute to form a troupe ordered to protect the life of a princess (whom I hated, by the way).

Jensen did such a good job developing characters, that I had strong and hard emotions about them. Every scene with the princess towards the latter half of this novel made me grimace. I wanted to like her. I wanted to root for her. This novel was a feminist dream (featuring lesbian representation and female empowerment), and yet, I could not stand behind her, her attitude, or her actions. Maybe when I reread this novel, knowing the outcome, I’ll see her and her actions differently, but for right now she’s on my list.

This novel made me want to know what will happen next. How will Marcus, Teriana, Killian, and Lydia meet in the future books? How will they defeat the evil that is closing in on all sides, especially if the evil force they’re facing is really a battle within themselves? As I was reading Dark Skies, I couldn’t help but notice Killian and Lydia’s names. Killian, a soldier blessed by the god of war, who is forced to kill his own people. Lydia, who has been away from her true home her whole life, and is blessed by the goddess of healing, and returns life back to her countrymen. It’s just so good! There’s so much to unpack in these two novels, that I could go on forever. I don’t know how long this series is supposed to be, but I will be there every step of the way.

Lydia escaped to a kingdom across the sea after she meddled in the plots of a powerful man. Killian is Marked by the God of War, but he can't stop the Corrupter from invading Mudamora. The two strike a bargain, but are caught by forces they can't control and their bargain has disastrous consequences.

Dark Skies is book two of the Dark Shores series, and I hadn't read the first novel. Apparently, the Celendor Empire sought to conquer the entire East of this world, and it's separated from the West by the Endless Seas. The Empire is based on the ancient Roman empire, complete with slaves, senators, Domina/Dominus titles, and the legions to fight wars and conquer land. Lydia just wants to study, and would rather not marry the would-be senator Lucius Cassius hungry for even more power than he already had, although that's the only avenue left to her because of her outsider heritage within the Empire.

In the meantime, in Mudamora people are marked by the gods, meant to do good things. This is also a terrible burden, so of course, Killian would help Lydia hide in the city and try to use her newfound skills as a healer to help find the Corrupted and protect the princess. It would also help her find her way home to prove Lucius broke the law and had her cousin poison her father. The drama of living in this war-torn country, along with its poor and the dread creatures roaming the skies at night is compelling, and I was sucked into the story once we hit that part of it. The slow beginning became a rapid and tumultuous ride, right down to the end of the book. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a cliffhanger, so it doesn't quite stand alone.