Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book was out of the gate full throttle. Fast-paced, delicious enemies-to-maybe-lovers romance, fantastic friendships, the worldbuilding (!!!) and honestly, I’m obsessed with the storm, and the story behind it all.

OBSESSED.

This book was a fantastic read.

Vesper lives in a world that is slowly being overcome by the’Storm’. She lives in a house that helps the ‘storm touched’ and cannot stand by & them brutalised by the Wardana, the Queens soldiers - led by her son Prince Dulca. However in order to protect his daughter her father must reveal his true identity and is taken away in chains. Vesper is determined to save her father so must take on the Wardana & ultimately confront the ‘Storm’ itself. She has to decide what is important to her and how much she is willing to sacrifice to achieve her goal.
A great read for anyone who is looking for a new world to discover.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

Vesper Vale lives with her father in the unpopular home for the storm touched. They mostly work as care takers, not being storm touched themselves, with a lovely older lady who owns the home and has a heart of gold. But this is ruined when Vesper decides to save the lives of strangers leading to her father revealing his true identity to save her in turn. The crowned prince and his guards will stop at nothing to acquire his secrets, so they detain him, planning on killing him for abandoning his post and not giving up his secrets to how he created and wielded his particular brand of magic. They ultimately leave Vesper with nothing, stealing away her father into the inner rings of the city. Vesper plans to stop at nothing to get him back.

So, Vesper is a teenager who lives in a city divided into rings. The closer to the middle, the wealthier you are it seems. It reminds me of the Hunger Games. See, Vesper is from now outer ring, the very outer ring since ring fell to the storm fairly recently, apparently. These people of the outer ring are to lowest of the low since the revolt was swiftly put down. Vesper’s parents were both part of that revolt, even though they were known as prominent and respected magic wielders and creators. When things fell apart, Vesper’s mother was captured and force to walk into the storm. Her father went into hiding with her shortly after.

The storm is an all-consuming enemy that changes people and animals it touches. It surrounds the city and reaches out far pass what the eye can see. It has basically taken over the entire world, leaving only the city left, as far as people can tell. Reminds me of another book I read that I can’t remember the name of where people are thrown out of the city and turned into beasts by the surrounding storm…anyhow. Storm touched people are shunned and treated as diseased on mass. Stormborn (children of storm touched people), however, seem to be valued a bit more because they usually have some sort of added abilities and unique features. At least, that was my understanding of it.

So people in ring 5 can only hope to be noticed and chosen to move up a ring to become an apprentice and/or a city guard. They are basically disfavored peasants who take the majority of the assaults from the storm and its beasts with no way to defend themselves unless the specially trained city guard, Wardana, show up to fight the beasts. That’s right, the storm spits out beast assaults every now and then. This is what happened when Vesper went out to save people and got her father caught, and this is what happens again when she decides to run away after a certain someone smooches her.

So, once her pa is taken away, Vesper forms and executes a plan to get him back by infiltrating the upper class rings as an apprentice and using her time to search for and free him. She has help from a somewhat unlikely source and, as it the classic fantasy romance cliché now, she rapidly catches the eye and interest of the prince, Prince Dulca. At first she plans to use him to just further along her plans to find her father, but she rapidly seems to fall in love with him. <spoiler> I mean rapidly. When they first kissed I wasn’t actually expecting him to just trip over himself falling head over heels in love with her so I might have muttered “what the heck was that” when he just kisses her out of the blue. I mean, talk about a few days whirlwind romance! </spoiler>

Prince Dalca was born for a purpose, to inherit the power of the Great King to become the Regia. And I cannot believe how fast he is to just decide to tell Vesper this huge secret within days of knowing her when she is disgusted and working in the wealthier ring of the city. So, these two new lovebirds (with one secretly struggling on how much she should just ‘use him’ for her own means) basically do a team up to ‘save’ the kingdom. Vesper kind of has to decide who is going to be sacrificed, Dulca, or her father.

So, what did I think? Well I have to be honest, I struggled to get into this book. There is nothing wrong with it. It’s fine. I mean, the world building is decent, the reader can infer the struggles of the outer, fifth, ring where Vesper originates from. Characters seem decently relatable, particularly Vesper who starts to struggle with her initial decisions as she gets to know certain people, learns more about the bigger picture of what is happening all around her. I just feel like…the author was following a formula written down for her by those who came before, you know?

I can see the influence of several other books that would fall into the same genre categories as this one. The different class in different districts/rings. The main character just trying to save/keep safe a loved one when things get complicated. The fast romance. The falling in love with the person she once perceived as the ‘bad guy.’ The storm that changes all who touch it. Just the main character and her ragtag group of friends trying to save their known world. You know? I mean once I settled in and really started reading it, it was good but I wouldn’t call it completely original.

I also feel like the pacing is a little off. It starts off fast, then kind of slips, then picks up again and slips…you get the picture. Whenever I stopped reading it was usually because I felt like the pace was slowing down and I wasn’t enjoying it as much…Ah, I just figure it out. This book read more like a teen fantasy novel than a YA fantasy novel. It’s familiar, without being completely the same, the timeline for things is more accelerated than a normal YA, and even though it is pretty long, I definitely feel like I am reading the adventure of a middle-aged teen. I mean, this girls’ first kiss was 32% of the way in this book. Nailed it!

It’s a decent read that feels vaguely familiar if you like to read a lot of teen dystopian/fantasy/romance type books. I wouldn’t call it bad. I wouldn’t call it great. But I would call it good with some addendums.

Conclusion?

I have mixed feelings about this one. Not a bad read, but I think it is better geared towards a slightly younger audience than advertised for, based on storyline and language used.

This cover!! wow pulls you in.
What a strong start for Sunya Mara. I quite enjoyed all the world building. I think sometimes people don't appreciate how much has to be thought through in an entirely fictional fantasy world. So I didn't mind that there was a lot of traveling back and forth for Vesper. I think with leaving this book as a cliffhanger it allows Sunya to explore so much more in the second book. I want to see where she takes these characters and the world.

I really look forward to exploring this world more in the second book.

Brilliant, fast paced YA dystopian fantasy.
I am a little over the target age for this genre but I still love to read them from time to time and The Darkening didn’t disappoint.
I can definitely see this being adapted for screen.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

The beautiful cover drew me to this book. The descriptive narrative pulled me into the story.

“The darkening” by Sunya Mara is the story of Vesper Vale trapped in a city that is being destroyed by an otherworldly all-consuming storm and her quest to rescue her father from the hands of the Crown Prince and his Guardians.

The concept for the story was unique and interesting unfortunately there were some holes in the narrative that occasionally left me feeling lost and confused.

The characters were all likable however it didn’t feel as if they were allowed to grow into themselves as much as it felt they could have. The storm had more character development than the main characters themselves.

The story had rebellion, romance, and adventure. It would be perfect for teenagers who enjoy fantasy and dystopian books. I wouldn’t say that this was my favourite book of all time but it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the next book in the series. (I hope that there may be more details about the history of the city they live in and how the storm came to be to come)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an exceptionally written fantasy novel, deep characterization with characters that you can really relate to-- as well as a fantastic plot. This is everything I love packaged together with a nice romance tangled into it.

Vesper lives in a land that is being threatened to be wiped out. Darkness with evil dreams threatens to overtake their city in the form of a storm. Can she work together with a Prince that she doesn't trust to bring an end to it all?

The Darkening is akin to Arthurian legend: a kingdom is in peril from an encroaching force (much like the Nothing in The Never Ending Story). A girl from the least privileged section of the kingdom embarks on an adventure to save her father and the entire kingdom.

The book is quick to get started on the action, but there are sections where the pacing dragged a bit, particularly within the Storm. The book seems set up for a sequel, particularly concerning the character of Izamal; otherwise, his storyline is abrupt and missing pieces.

This book is appropriate for most fans of the fantasy genre. There was also a bit of a steampunk vibe throughout. If people are familiar with Arthurian legend, they may easily predict where this one is going, but it’s still an enjoyable read.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara is a great fantasy adventure. It has the perfect amount of world building to help you understand and create this world in your mind without the story being bogged down with trying to explain it. Vesper is a very relatable character, still a teen but on the brink of young adulthood, and trying to find her place and purpose in the world. The story itself is interesting and entertaining throughout the whole book and will keep you on the edge of your seat in some parts. At the end we are left with a cliffhanger, so I will definitely be looking for the next book! I highly recommend this book!

Vesper Vale is a teenager living in a world that is under constant threat from the storm - an overwhelming mass of darkness that has no beginning or end, but leaves those who touch it cursed. The storm is growing at an alarming rate, and only the Regia and those who know ikonomancy have the power to push the storm back. When Vesper’s father is imprisoned, she ventures to the heart of the enemy to free him. As she learns more about her family’s past and becomes close to a prince who carries a festering burden, she must choose where to place her trust and who to fight for,

I thought this story began with great promise. The premise is intriguing; not completely original (the storm reminded me of “the Shadow Fold” from Shadow and Bone) but different enough to capture my interest. Vesper is a good protagonist. At first I was annoyed by her naivety, but she is only seventeen. She wants to do more and be more than she is, but she doesn’t quite know how, and her attempts backfire and make a bigger mess of things. This is frustrating as a reader, but rings true to the character’s lack of experience. Her character is also a bit morally gray; she can be selfish and short-sighted, but she’s also rather self-aware of her flaws. These traits leave a lot of room for growth. She took me through a gambit of emotions, and in the end I rooted for her.

About a third of the way in, the plot became a problem. After she arrives at the Ven the pacing becomes a bit sluggish, and too much time is spent on things that don’t have much of an overarching impact on the story. The plot also becomes muddled and confusing. The reader is only given a small amount of information on the history of the world these characters exist in, ikons, the storm itself, and the mythology of the Regia and The Great King. I didn’t really understand any of it until almost the end of the story, which made getting to the end of the story a bit painful. The origins of all these elements should have been explained more thoroughly from the beginning.

I found the world itself confusing. Vesper could see the fifth ring from a high balcony in the first ring, and apparently walk anywhere within a couple of hours……that would make their world absolutely tiny, and I wasn’t sure if that was actually the author’s intent.

Ikons seem fascinating. Not expanding on their invention and power was a missed opportunity.

At the beginning we learn about the lack of food and meeting of basic needs in the fifth ring. Then it’s not really mentioned again. The rebel knitting circle could have been interesting, but they come and go and aren’t heard from again. This happens a lot; threads are introduced that end up going nowhere. Don’t introduce a knife in the second act if you’re not going stab someone with it in the third.

The romance was a slow burn. At times it was sweet and almost painfully real. At other times it flip-flopped so quickly from almost love to raging hatred (hello third trial) that I didn’t understand what was going on with the characters, especially Dalca. He went from executioner to staunch protector in the blink of an eye.

I think that a great editor and some rewriting could turn this into a fantastic story. All the elements are there, they just need better cohesion, explanation and fine-tuning so the reader doesn’t get lost.

Vesper is a young girl who lives in the fifth ring, a neighborhood condemned to be the front lines of a battle against an other-worldly Storm that threatens the existence of everyone in her city. The only daughter of failed revolutionaries, she has never been content to hide the way her father has, and is determined to make a difference - whether that's through ikonomancy or nursing those cursed by the Storm. But a small mistake sends her life into a tailspin, and she is swept into ancient mysteries and a fight for the soul of her city.

Though I couldn't help comparing this to The Hunger Games and the Shadow and Bone trilogy, it was still unique, and Vesper was a surprising protagonist. While the story follows Vesper pretty tightly, supporting characters are afforded their own fleshed out back stories and growth arcs - some involving more growth than others. Personally, I'm very over the angsty love stories of most YA novels, and while there is some angsty love, it supports the story rather than detracting from it. The ending leaves room for a sequel, and I'd definitely pick it up.

"The Darkening" by Sunya Mara is the story of Vesper Vale and her quest to rescue her father from the hands of the crown prince and his guardian friends. It has hints of rebellion, lines of succession, teenage angst, and dystopia. The world is slowly being destroyed by an all-consuming storm that is more of a nuclear attack than a classical storm.

As a whole, the book had great potential, and with some editing and rewriting, it can be a great story. The magic system is vaguely explained, the characters achieve little development, and the history of what has happened before is glossed over leaving the reader wondering what is actually going on and whether the characters even remember their own recent past. At points, it felt like the book was missing sections that could have easily given the reader much needed information for plot and character development.

All in all, "The Darkening" was a fun read, and it could have been great. Perhaps the second book in the duology will help to further develop the world and fill in much needed gaps.

Vesper Vale will do anything to find and protect her Pa. Living in a world divided by wealth and with a huge storm threatening to end the world, Vesper seeks a way save the world and her Pa without destroying everything.
Prince Dalca was born for one purpose- to inherit the power of the Great King to become the Regia, leader of the land that has survived the Storm, so far. Acting as Wardana, fighters of the Storm, the Prince crosses paths with Vesper when she sneaks into the Fifth Ring, the wealthiest district in the land. Romance abounds between the two even as Vesper realizes a relationship with Prince Dalca, who is hunting her father, could lead to betrayal of her Pa.
Armed and armored with the power to draw Ikons that pull on magic, Prince Dalca and Vesper will try to save the kingdom from destruction by the Storm and The Great King. They just have to decide who will be sacrificed for the greater good.
There is beautiful world building in The Darkening, such that the kingdom becomes its own character. Through Mara's detailed writing the rings, or parts, of the kingdom come alive. The reader can "see" the devastation of the fifth ring, from which Vesper escapes, and the terror that is the Storm that overshadows every action. The dialogue rings true for each character, all of whom are flushed out thoroughly. . Each character grows and changes as the story progresses, which is a mark of good writing. The storyline builds momentum leading the reader to a breath holding ending. There is room for another story.

This ARC included numerous errors and repetitions of passages, these errors mirrored the prose itself, which had the main character recycling the same types of thoughts over and over again, leading their character development to be ploddingly slow. Almost every chapter was missing several pages and yet it was easy enough to follow the plot, because so much of it was filler.

All of this was started at the end of chapter one, which was engaging and fast-paced. I just wish the rest of the book followed suit.

This dystopian story gripped me from the beginning. Survival vs Suffering
A level of magic (ikonomancy) and gods that fits seamlessly into a story of social justice.
Towards the end of the book it does seem like the author was trying to squeeze in last thoughts, but the story itself is creative, detailed, nuanced, and just interesting in the best possible way.

Their world is being enveloped by a storm so fierce, so brutal, so otherworldly that nothing survives when it touches down. Vesper Vale wants to save her world, where the poor and desperate eek out a survival but where there is love and community. Dalca is next in line to be Regia, a fate that may not seem as wonderful as it once was. Together they will have to beat themselves and battle the gods to save their world. This book had me hooked from day 1 and the descriptions of the storm were so detailed and beautiful I could see it so clearly in my mind. A great read and one I would highly recommend!

This was a good book with a strong protagonist. It will not go into my favorite books, but it was still fun. The beginning was a little slow, but when it picked up, it really picked up. I would recommend this to my friends when it is published.

My students will totally devour this! A brilliant action adventure full of twists, turns and drama - it'll have you on the edge of your seat the whole time!!

**I received an ARC from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I was very impressed with this book. I loved the world building and the characters. It was very well written. This is a book I'd gladly read again and add to my collection. This book isn't even released yet and I'm already excited for the 2nd one! It's a must read for fantasy lovers.