Thank you to Clarion and NetGalley for providing me an eARC to review!

First of all would just like to say this cover is absolutely beautiful!!! But sadly I found this book to be just okay.

While the setting - especially the storm and its monsters - was interesting, I thought the characters and their relationships fell flat. A lot of this book is the main character going on about how she has to save her father and how everything is her fault, and her father refuses to be saved, so between them it just felt like there was a lot of whining going on which I didn't particularly enjoy. I think there was also meant to be a bit of a found family element, but I found Iza, Cas and Dalca all quite one dimensional and the romance in particular I didn't think was great. I also thought that the women in this book were either depicted as pitiful, kind of evil, or dead which I didn't LOVE.

The magic system was also pretty cool but it was lost in the kind of monotonous tone of the first 2/3 of this book. Around this point things get more interesting, but it also felt a bit jarring since the beginning had been relatively uneventful. If the whole book had had more of this strange, adventurous element I think I would have enjoyed it more, but the whole book just felt a bit flat to me and I couldn't really get into it. I think part of this was the main character just being so hopeless and whiny all the time about how everything was her fault - she wasn't exactly someone that was easy to root for. And the ending does have a bit of excitement but since I wasn't invested I didn't really care.

It reminded me a bit of Raybearer in some ways, and while I don't think this is a bad book, I just wasn't gripped by it. Would definitely be interested in picking up something else from the author in future though.

“If nightmares had music, they’d sound like the Storm.”

Vesper Vale’s life has been anything but easy. After her parents’ failed rebellion, her mother was sent into the Storm, a cloud of nightmares and monsters that surround the city Vesper lives in. Her mother was never seen again and after twelve years of attempting to avoid the same fate, Vesper’s father has been captured by her city’s cunning sorcerers, the Wardana. Vesper will do anything to save her father, even if that includes infiltrating the insidious group that trapped him. As she works to save her father, Vesper discovers that her mother’s death was not all that it seemed. And in order to save her city, free her father, and avoid being sent into the Storm herself, Vesper may have to put her faith in the very people she’s attempting to fool.

Sunya Mara’s The Darkening is everything that a YA novel should be. With a one-of-a-kind setting, an intricate magic system, and a compelling plot, Mara has created a wonderfully written debut novel. Her writing style is so expressive and passionate, I truly felt that I was transported into the world she has created. The characters were my favorite part of the novel. As the story progresses, the bonds between Vesper and the other characters developed and the dynamics between them made for a much more entertaining read. Vesper was a fantastic main character, her simple goal to save her father and her growth made for a much more realistic and engaging character. Sunya Mara’s incredibly descriptive action sequences kept me on the edge of my seat, and her lyrical prose created a beautiful world for her readers. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an electrifying fantasy thriller that will have them begging for a sequel.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

PRR Writer, Frances Drye

I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and thankfully the content inside did not disappoint. I had a copy of this as an eARC although I ended up reading that ARC the day the book released. I will definitely be looking to pick up a physical copy of this gorgeous book.
Mara takes us to a world where a storm continues to threaten a city stuck in the eye of the storm with no hope of possible escape. In this desperate situation, a hierarchy of those sworn to protect has gotten corrupted and turned into a highly stratified, caste-like society which places those closest to the storm in the lowest rank with the "storm-touched" falling below even that.
In this situation, the main character finds herself trying to rescue her father whom she belatedly learns had previously tried to overthrow the ruling regime in an attempt to solve the problem of the storm and ends up captured and on trial for treason. She infiltrates the palace, becoming an apprentice to the Prince's right hand man but her subterfuge is quickly found out.
All of the twists and turns in this story utterly captivated me even though the world building did get a little thick at parts of the narrative, something likely necessary in the first book of a brand new fantasy series. The complexity of the characters hooked me and I cannot wait to read the sequel.

The premise of this book was quite intriguing and I was so excited to delve in. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters as the story progressed and overall, I did enjoy the writing style. I think my biggest issue with the book was the pacing. There were moments were the book flowed quite nicely and others were it just didn't. I also, personally, wasn't a huge fan of the romance, but I can definitely see people feeling differently. Overall a solid read.

I received this an ARC through Netgalley. Like many other reviews I've read, I to had high hopes for The Darkening from reading the description. It felt like a mix of Hunger Games, Divergent, Mortal Instruments, and Shadow and Bone series. If that sounds like a lot, it is. If it hadn't be that I was reading as an ARC, I would have DNF"d at about 100 pages. I felt like it was a worn out trope with Vesper, never feeling good enough and being the reason everything was being messed up. Dalca, the bad guy or the good guy falling for the lowly girl who might turn out to be the country's savior. Just really couldn't connect with any of the characters or the world that was created. I believe this is the first in a series, I won't be reading the rest of them.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara is the first instalment in a gripping new fantasy series that kept me hooked from page one. With experimental magic, a cursed storm, an undercover protagonist, and a royal love interest, this one contains so many elements that I love. I especially enjoyed the balance between worldbuilding and action, which makes this one a rich and unputdownable debut that fantasy fans will love.

Years ago, Vesper’s revolutionary mother was captured by the queen’s soldiers and sentenced to death by a storm that surrounds the city. When Vesper’s father, the only family she has left, is taken as a prisoner himself, she is determined to do whatever it takes to save him. Armed with her father’s book of experimental magic, Vesper disguises herself as an apprentice in order to infiltrate the castle. However, when she realizes that there is more good in the prince than she thought, her path to saving her father becomes more complex than she thought.

❀ INTERESTING MAIN CHARACTER

Vesper is an interesting main character, and I enjoyed reading about her internal conflict. She is an advocate for justice for the outer rings of her city, and while she has big shoes to fill as the daughter of revolutionaries, I liked how she chooses her own path and makes her own decisions. Vesper’s loyalty to her father is especially touching, even when her desire to save the city conflicts with her plans to save him. Throughout the book, she undergoes a lot of self-discovery, and I enjoyed the direction her character takes in the end.

❀ ENGAGING STORY

As I was reading, I found myself hooked by the pacing of this book. Pacing is often something I struggle with in fantasies, but Sunya Mara successfully kept me engaged throughout the whole story. She begins by taking the time to unpack the world and its social conditions, and I appreciated getting a feel for the environment before diving into the plot. While there are many descriptions at the beginning of the book, I was never bored by these, and the story remains action-packed and suspenseful all the way through as we fear for Vesper’s cover being blown.

❀ AN EPIC FANTASY

The Darkening by Sunya Mara is an epic fantasy with many surprising elements. I enjoyed the idea of experimental magic and a cursed storm, and the main character develops throughout the story. As someone who tends to struggle with long fantasy novels, I enjoyed the pacing of this one, and I would recommend it to those looking for a thrilling new series with an exciting world.

This debut was fantastic! The worldbuilding and setting were just so unique and engaging. The city made of rings and a storm that consumed everything was really, really cool. Vesper was a strong character who was fun to read. Overall, a solid YA fantasy that skews slightly younger with great spins on familiar tropes!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for review

Thank you so much, HCC Frenzy and HarperCollins Canada, for allowing me to read and review this e-arc. This review will be posted closer to the publication date on Goodreads, My Instagram, and Various Shops (Amazon Canada/Barnes & Noble/ Indigo Canada).

I enjoyed Sunya Mara's The Darkening. I was hooked from the very first chapter. Mara's writing is very poetic. I found myself highlighting various quotes on my kindle. Mara does a great job at setting the novel's scene, tone, and atmosphere for each chapter. As I was reading, I could see the entire story unfold in my head like a movie.

I think this story will appeal to fans of Leigh Bardugo (Grishaverse), Elizabeth Lim (Six Crimson Cranes), and Cassandra Clare (Shadowhunter Chronicles').

Mara does a great job at worldbuilding in The Darkening. The storm and the magic system were easily explained. I did not feel there were any moments where there were info dumps in this book. Overall, the plot and the worldbuilding flowed easily together.

The characters? I loved Vesper. I found myself rooting for her from very early on in the novel. I also developed a soft spot for Cas in this book.

The romance? I did enjoy the romance between Vesper and the Prince. However, I'm hoping the romance will be further fleshed out in future books.

The book ends in a way...where I'm not sure what will happen in book 2. This makes me excited for the sequel.

My only critique is that I felt the Prince's character could have been fleshed out (strengthened) more in the beginning half of The Darkening.

Overall, I'm looking forward to the sequel to this series. I'm excited to see where Vesper will take us next on her journey. I loved the worldbuilding and Sunya Mara's writing in this book. Vesper was a great narrator, and I enjoyed the romance. The Darkening was a solid first book in a new fantasy series.

I would highly recommend this book for early YA fantasy readers. As someone who has read from this genre frequently for quite sometime, the author's implementation of several tropes didn't resonate with me the way it may with fresher eyes.

3 stars

It's important to note that I am not typically a fan of fantasy but do often challenge myself to read it when the premise seems strong, and that is exactly how I ended up reading this one. Overall, I'm glad I did.

Vesper, the m.c., is the child of revolutionaries who end up more successful in their hearts than in their practice. It's no surprise that a similar spirit has imbued her. However, Vesper experiences some limitations that, unfortunately, make her about as successful as her parents, in some ways. Vesper really fits that strong fem who is constantly surrounded by dudes who don't listen to her type, and while this is going to be relatable for many (even most) readers, it's also a little frustrating at times in terms of both her character and the forward movement of events. For me, the pacing is a little slow throughout most of the book, though I do really like the way this ends, so much so that it's making me excited to read the conclusion to this duology.

While I hoped for a little more explanation of some of the magical elements and a little more rapidity throughout most of the book, I did enjoy the read overall and am really interested to see how this collection wraps.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book, and then it took kind of a weird, sad turn and it just kind of ruined it for me. I liked the whole aspect of the Storm closing in and the power being tied to the Regia, the leader. There were a few things that were explained poorly though, or didn't have a complete explanation or resolution.
Vesper was a great main character. I connected with her inner struggle and desire to do the right thing, but always feeling like you're making the wrong choice. I struggled with Dalca, he seemed to be blown about by any change of situation and I don't feel like I ever actually found out what he stood for.
I really, really wanted to love this book, but I just hit this disconnect point and it never got me back. Other I know will love this book, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and HCC Frenzy for gifting me an e-arc of this book to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I picked this title as part of my attempt to read more Fantasy novel. I will say fantasy tends to go over my head and this one was no exception. This book, however, has gorgeous and lush writing. And have you seen this cover?

I am so bummed that this wasn’t a BOTM pick. For being a debut, this book should have been one! It is AMAZING.

The world building was done so well, and the way she described the ways magic works and the relationships kept me engaged.

Sometimes sci-fi YA can be underwhelming, but the author really understood the assignment! Highly recommend, and can’t wait for book 2!!!

The city is haunted by a powerful Storm that devours all it touches, or curses those that escape it. Vesper Vale, daughter of failed revolutionaries, knows this well. It is her district that is dangerously close to disappearing into the storm, like her mother did all those years ago. Only the Regia--the Queen, the living vessel of a great god--can save them... but Vesper has her doubts. When her father is captured and held prisoner by the paranoid prince, Vesper decides to infiltrate the prince's inner circle. Soon, though, she'll be faced with a decision that could very well destroy her world.

The Darkening is a dark fantasy debut that will appeal to young adult and adult readers alike. It has some heavy themes, and is laden with strong symbolism. In fact, it almost felt a little more cerebral than your average YA fantasy. 3.5 stars.

This is one of those books that feel hard to describe. I did take a little while to read this, in part because I felt that the first half was very slow and drawn out. Mara builds a world that is narrowed down to a single city facing utter destruction at the hands of a magical, ominous Storm. Vesper, who is a fairly complex character, was an easy narrator to follow. But I never really felt fully taken with the book until the second half.

In the second half of the novel, a lot of those loose threads introduced earlier in the novel are beginning to weave themselves together into a bigger picture. The book is heavy on its symbolism, and almost feels a little philosophical in nature. Vesper and some of her supporting cast are forced to look deep into themselves in more ways than one, the consequences of which can either save their world or completely destroy it. Many of the side characters have some small complexities that I fully expect will be explored in the subsequent novel.

All in all, I enjoyed The Darkening. While it is a book that feels very abstract and might be a bit much for younger teens to wrap their heads around, it has the potential to be a book that crosses the divide from YA to adult audiences. The politics, the intrigue, and the deep thought put into it are utterly interesting, but could also be a downfall for some readers. Ultimately, this book is an alluring beginning to a series.

Posted to Goodreads on June 28, 2022.

In some ways, The Darkening is about the way we see ourselves. Are we more than a daughter? More than the roles we inherited and inhabit? We are our own person. With our own lives and desires, what can we make of it? This theme for Vesper to explore is my favorite element of the book. Because it forces us to think about not only the expectations others have of us, but also that we have of ourselves. If she wants to save her father, she will have to grapple with both.

The action in The Darkening propels readers through a story of difficult choices. Of characters who are all trying to make change in a variety of ways and struggling to figure out who will actually succeed. What approach will finally be triumphant. Because when we see only our goals with a single minded approach, it becomes a question of sacrifice for our pride and our ambition.

WOW. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of my new favourite YA fantasy!

From the moment that we meet Vesper, fighting to survive in a city that is slowly being overtaken by a storm of darkness and monsters, I was in love. The world building is so unique, and the writing really makes you feel that sense of dread that anyone in this world would. I also loved the romance, there is one line that made me gasp which never happens in YA fantasy!!!!

Finally, the plot - captivating, and I was unable to put the book down until the very end. Can't wait to recommend this to everyone!!!!

Questo libro è davvero fantastico!
Sin dalle prime pagine è davvero facile immergersi nell'ambientazione e nei panni della protagonista, che è una ragazza che cerca di dimostrarsi forte per affrontare il piccolo deprimente mondo dove vive nel miglior modo possibile. In realtà dentro di lei ha tante insicurezze dovute alla mancanza di fiducia del padre nei suoi confronti e alla mancanza di opportunità di poter fare qualcosa per cambiare la situazione in cui sono tutti costretti a vivere.
Ma le sue azioni sconsiderate daranno il via alla storia e agli eventi che porteranno la maledizione della Tempesta che circonda la loro città a venire annullata.
Vesper, la protagonista, evolve velocemente durante la storia, dimostrando che anche senza la conoscenza che desiderava che il padre le insegnasse, lei riesce a cavarsela comunque, dimostrando a tutti la sua forza e il suo coraggio. Mi ha ricordato molto Katniss di Hunger Games e per questo l'apprezzo ancora di più, perchè non è uno di quei personaggi infallibili e presuntuosi.
Anche i personaggi maschili, Dalca, Casvian e Izamal son ben costruiti, anche se avrei voluto conoscerli meglio (e spero che il secondo libro ce li mostri molto di più!). Su Dalca l'autrice avrebbe forse dovuto lavorare di più sopratutto alla fine. Non ho ben capito come e perchè abbia cambiato modo di comportarsi in maniera cosi repentina. Spero anche di rivedere molto di più Izamal nel secondo libro. Ha molto da raccontare e per parecchio ho pensato sarebbe stato un secondo love interest...ehehe!
Casvian invece è il tipico tsundere, duro all'esterno, morbidoso all'interno!
La costruzione dell'ambientazione è davvero molto particolare, perchè sebbene io abbia immaginato una città con rimandi arabeggianti, non ha direttamente nulla che rimandi a quella cultura, eppure mi ispirava ad immaginarmi paesaggi molto esotici e immersi nel deserto. Questo forse è dovuto alla descrizione della città come unico spiraglio di luce in mezzo al nulla della Tempersta.
E' molto facile immaginarsi questo libro come una serie tv. Ha davvero delle ambientazioni favolose, azioni e combattimenti spettacolari e quel tanto che basta di romance, per tenerti incollata alle pagine per capire come andrà avanti al storia.
Le ultime pagine son davvero riuscite a tenermi col fiato sospeso e le scene finali sono davvero angoscianti, proprio come il peso dell'oscurità sopra la città man mano che la Tempesta va a ricoprirla.
Voglio davvero sapere al più presto come andrà avanti questa storia!

Grazie a Netgalley e Clarion Books per avermi dato la possibilità di leggere questo libro in anteprima!

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This book is really great!
From the very first pages it is really easy to immerse yourself in the setting and in the role of the protagonist, who is a girl who tries to prove herself strong to face the depressing little world where she lives in the best possible way. In reality, she has many insecurities inside her due to the lack of trust of her father towards her and the lack of opportunities to be able to do something to change the situation in which they are all forced to live.
But her reckless actions will set off the story and events that lead the curse of the Storm surrounding their city to be undone.
Vesper, the protagonist, evolves quickly throughout the story, proving that even without the knowledge that she wanted her father to teach her, she still manages to get away with it, showing everyone her strength and courage. She reminded me a lot of Katniss from Hunger games and for this I appreciate her even more, because she is not one of those infallible and presumptuous characters.
The male characters, Dalca, Casvian and Izamal are also well built, although I would have liked to know them better (and I hope the second book shows us a lot more!). On Dalca the author should perhaps have worked more especially at the end. I don't quite understand how and why he changed his way of behaving so suddenly. I also hope to see Izamal a lot more in the second book. He has a lot to tell and for a long time I thought he would be a second love interest ... hehe!
Casvian, on the other hand, is the typical tsundere, hard on the outside, soft on the inside!
The construction of the setting is really particular, because although I imagined a city with Arabic references, it has nothing directly that refers to that culture, yet it inspired me to imagine very exotic landscapes immersed in the desert. This is perhaps due to the description of the city as the only glimmer of light in the middle of nowhere in the Storm.
It is very easy to imagine this book as a TV series. It really has some fabulous settings, spectacular action and combat, and just enough romance to keep you glued to the pages to understand how the story goes.
The last few pages really managed to keep me in suspense and the final scenes are truly distressing, just like the weight of darkness over the city as the Storm covers it.
I really want to know as soon as possible how this story will go on!

Thanks to Netgalley and Clarion Books for giving me the opportunity to preview this book!

The premise of The Darkening was intriguing, and it was a pretty solid story. Still, I thought the magic system needed further explanation. It seemed complex and integral to the plot, but the author’s treatment of it was vague. And I thought we needed more context surrounding the ever-present Storm. Vesper, Dalca, and Izamal were very compelling as characters, and, I thought, had a lot of personality. I just wanted more detail in terms of world-building. It was still a unique read, and the scholarly aspect of the magic and incorporation of elements when making Sofia’s reminded me of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind.

I loved this book at first. The whole idea of a world becoming increasingly dark as the protections against the darkness fail really appealed and I really liked the main character, Vesper. She was independent and strong minded but had a really soft side to her.
The world building was great and I could really visualise the fifth ring and its inhabitants. I also loved the magic system and the way that the Ikons could be written in anything, even in soil. The plot was straightforward but the idea of the storm being sentient was one that I enjoyed.
However, the second half of the book really didn’t hold my attention in the same way as the early part. The relationships between the characters didn’t seem to have any depth to them. Even the romance arc was a bit confusing as there didn’t seem to be any reason why these characters should fall in love. There were also plot strands that didn’t seem to go anywhere such as the weapons being given to the fifth circle and Vesper’s meetings with the old rebels
I did however, love the epilogue. As a final page of a story, it was excellent.
Many thanks to Clarion Books and Net Galley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm always a fan of stories that involve revolutionaries being outcast but then suddenly needed by the powers that be. Vesper and the rest of the cast were all well-developed characters and there was a ton of beautiful writing and descriptions. However, that came at the cost of the plot, which left many things unexplained, including the relationships between characters.