“I know,” he said. “I’m a monster.” But she didn’t flinch like the guards behind her did. Instead, she came forward and put her arms around him. “You’ll never be a monster to me.” He closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of her. And, just for a moment, everything felt beautiful.

That Dark Infinity turned out to be one of the most solid standalone YA fantasies I’ve read in years. But before we get into the review, can we just take a moment and appreciate this bonkers beautiful cover? Let me tell you, the vibes of the cover truly reflect the vibes of the story. In That Dark Infinity, we follow the Ankou, a legendary young mercenary who’s been cursed to live forever, disintegrating into dust and bones every time the sun rises. Spending his nights hunting monsters plaguing his country, the Ankou’s true ambition is to find his final rest, no matter the cost. When the kingdom of Kaer-Ise is sacked and Flora, a handmaiden to the royal princess, is assaulted and left for dead, the Ankou’s life is about to change. Wounded and heartbroken, Flora wants nothing more than to be reunited with the princess she loved, so they strike a deal: Flora will help the Ankou break his curse and find his final rest in exchange for training in combat and finding the princess. But as they soon learn, killing an immortal being isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if his bonds to the human world deepen unexpectedly.

The premise of the story ticked all my boxes—an immortal monster hunter who secretly isn’t all that evil? Check. A royal handmaiden who finds her inner strength and avenges herself? Check. An epic journey that leads to finding a family you always desired but never quite attained? Check. A dramatic ending that both elevates you and makes you question what you would do if you were immortal? Check and check. And the funny thing is, That Dark Infinity not only promised these things—it also delivered on them!

While I don’t want to give away too much of the story, I do want to say that what appealed to me most was the focus on healing and recovery in this book. We have these two protagonists that go through tremendous trauma—the Ankou that has spend centuries fighting monsters and trying not to become one himself, and as we later learn having come by immortality through a truly traumatising event involving one of the people he would have gone to the ends of the earth for. And then we have Flora, who finds her entire life shattered and taken from her and has to rebuild from the ashes all while being the sole survivor of her entire community. The way Pentecost interweaved a story of trauma and recovery with magic made this such a special story that will for sure stick with readers.

The development of the friendship between the Ankou and Flora was also well done—I wouldn’t necessarily call it a romance because at the forefront it really focuses on finding someone you can trust, someone who will protect you but also let you fight your own battles and offer support through it all and Flora and the Ankou really blossom here. Their individual journeys toward mending the pain of their pasts brings them closer together and their connection relies on this shared pain without letting it drag them down which was beautiful to witness. Speaking of friendship, the Ankou and Flora pick up another friend along the way and he definitely added a lot of comedic relief to the sometimes harrowing story. Honestly, I went into this book thinking it was going to be a romance, but it turned out to be a story so focused on the true bonds of friendship and what it means to be a good friend and it just made my heart soar.

Beyond the relationships, there is so much to explore in this story: from an ancient curse, mythical creatures (all I will say is unicorn!!) to an explosive trial of courage at the end that will change everyone’s life, That Dark Infinity has got it all and I can’t wait for readers to devour it (and hopefully make fanart of the Ankou because I want that more than air).

An adventurous, dark tale that focuses on found family and healing, That Dark Infinity is a captivating read perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and The Shadows Between Us.