Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this book early. Unfortunately once again, I didn't make it quite on time.

This book... was not for me. Honestly, I should have just DNF'ed it because I knew early on that this was NOT working for me, but I was reading it with my friend so I felt obligated to continue.

For starters, this book is LONG... Like unnecessarily long. I love chunky books, especially fantasies, but this was just massive for the sake of being so. Also, this is NOT an adult fantasy. Even though the characters ages say they are adults, their behaviors (dear god, their attitudes, the way they talk, and the almost trope-y love stories make them all super annoying) and the general themes in this story are definitely suitable for a young adult audience.

I feel bad giving this such a low review, because in theory and based on the synopsis, I should have LOVED this book, which is what I was honestly expecting. I just feel like it was so... messy. The ending especially. I feel like the author just had so many ideas and wanted to just kind of cram them all in before the last page and because it was reveal after reveal none of them had any impact (but that may also be just my negativity and personal opinion because I did not connect to any of the five main characters, side characters, and truthfully just really wanted to story to be over at this point).

The biggest issue is the pacing and tone of the book. It is very long and there was definitely some parts that could have been cut to stream line the story. It’s strange because I’ve definitely read longer books but even in their most “slow” moments I was entertained. The ending is very strong and I really enjoyed where the story is going. So I think I’ll keep reading for sure.

Like other have noted, parts read like a YA book. Especially with the main character Taesia. I think she’s the author’s favorite which is ironic because of the few people who I’ve heard talk about this book, she’s the most frustrating character to read from (I agree.) I personally prefer Risha or Angelica’s pov but that’s all subjective.

I wanted to give this a higher rating but it definitely needed to be chopped down. I hope the author really hones in on the storytelling because this is adult fantasy and I think she could really push more so the writing reflects that.

I had been extremely excited to read this one after seeing the blurb and it being marketed as a dark adult fantasy with queer characters. However, it didn’t deliver in the way I wanted it to. It was definitely YA in my opinion and there were too many characters that didn’t feel fully fleshed out. It also felt like a setup for the next book rather than being well rounded in its own right. For being so long, I wanted there to be more reasoning behind things. So much was left to figure out in the end that it kind of got muddled in my mind. Most of the characters didn’t have much development and that’s why it felt more like an extremely long prequel to me. I did enjoy parts of it, especially the epic fights and learning a new magic system. I’m interested to see where this leads the characters in the future, especially Taesia who I loved reading. The inner relationships were definitely the thing keeping me going and what I’m looking forward to. For me, this was a 3.5/5.

I received a digital copy of this book free from Books Forward Friends and Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review.

This was everything I needed in a fantasy! The houses, the magic, the gods, the political scheming. I will say in the beginning, understand the city, the country, the world, and then the other realms made my head spin. But I LOVE a book with a map and a cast of characters and Tara Sim provided. Once I got the hang of it, the story blew by like a breeze. I loved the diversity of the cast of characters and the relationships between them all. I loved the mystery of it, the dark fantasy elements and it’s an understatement that I am excited for the next book.

I actually have very conflicting feelings about this book. I absolutely love the concept for this story, and it felt unique compared to a lot of other fantasy I've come across. The fact that every house has its own distinct magic system really caught my attention. I feel like it can be hard to pull off a magic system like that, while also making it feel cohesive within the story, and I feel like the author handled this really well. The main conflict of the story also kept me interested throughout the book, because while I could predict some aspects, a lot of developments throughout the story still managed to genuinely surprise me. By the end of the book I was in awe at how different the final moments were compared to anything I had expected.

That being said, I still struggled to get through this book at many points. While I found the plot and magic to be interesting, I was frequently frustrated with some of the characters that we follow in the book. I understand that there is a younger cast of characters here, and many of their actions do make sense for their age, but I still struggled to like a few of them throughout a decent portion of the book. By the time I finished the book, many of those characters had started to grow on me. Some things they did still frustrated me but I could at least appreciate their gradual growth over time.

The pacing of this book also made it a bit harder to get through at times. There is a lot to explain due to how complex this universe, but that unfortunately made many parts of this book feel really slow and like they dragged on. I actually had to put the book down on more than one occasion and take breaks before returning so it wouldn't bring on a reading slump of sorts. While I criticize the pacing, most of the information we got during the slower bits still felt important to the story, so I'm not sure how much better that could have been handled.

Overall, despite how negative this review might sound, I'm really glad that I read this book now that I finished it! The entire end of the story was so full of action and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how the various conflicts would be resolved. I even read the last 20% of this book in one short sitting after having to spread out my reading of the first 80% because I was so invested at that point. This first book answered many questions, but also created so many more to the point where I'm actually genuinely excited for the sequel now.

I definitely think it's worth it to at least give this book a chance, since I found the payoff to be genuinely worth the slower parts throughout the middle of the book. If you're worried about this book reading too young, it did have a slight young adult feel throughout it, but still felt adult enough for me to read, and I generally don't enjoy young adult as much myself.

I'd rate this book 4/5 stars, mostly due to the ending making up for any other issues I had earlier in the story.

I need the next book in this series immediately!!! The characters were well done, and the worldbuilding was lush. I loved the focus on politics.

Look. I don’t mean to be pedantic. I try hard to suspend my disbelief, but I just couldn’t. What’s with the horticulture? Why is there so much paper? Why is the king just doing everything? Why are there so many nonsense similes?

The plot is also baffling. It doesn’t make sense that even though the realms were sealed half a millennia ago in this book the refugees are still being segregated like this - I’m not saying there wouldn’t still be xenophobia, but there would be more mixing. For that matter, why did it take five hundred years to notice negative impacts of the sealing? Why did the characters just assume that it was because of the sealing? If you asked me what I thought the root of our current problems are I would probably guess Ronald Reagan before colonialism (although a compelling argument can and should be made about colonialism, so maybe I should let this one go).

Alright everyone, this book is good. But I deducted a star because it took me a really long time to actually get into it.

It was heavy world building and character introducing for about the first 25% and by then, I usually know if I’m into the book or not. But with this one I pushed through because I loved @tarasimauthor books in the past and I had a feeling this one wouldn’t be any different.

And I’m so glad I kept reading! There was a lot of mystery and intrigue once things started picking up and we see how all of the characters are connected and see things play out in various perspectives. And I actually enjoyed that more than I thought I would.

The world building and character dynamics is very immersive and detailed and it brought the story deeper and more interesting to me. The magic and necromancy aspect of this book totally captivated me and from the very beginning I was interested to see how it was all going to play out.

This was a bit of a slow burn, definitely one of those novels I had to take my time with. Sim absolutely nails the dreary setting and dark atmosphere, which I absolutely loved. The magic system and the way it interacts with each of the characters is quite the experience, and I loved to learn more about it alongside the characters. While I really enjoyed the main group of characters, all of the perspectives were a little overwhelming. There's a lot of information to hold onto, and it is definitely one of those stories you need to absorb and spend some time thinking about the way the world functions. But, I really enjoyed this first installment and can't wait to see what happens next!

Thanks to Net Galley, I was given the opportunity to read this book in advance for a honest review. In my honest opinion, this book is alright. This book didn't draw me in and keep me hooked. In fact, I honestly had a difficult time finishing it, but that's on me. It's definitely not anything spectacular nor is it the best thing I've read in a while; however if a person is into young adult-esque fantasy, then this book is for you.

I couldn't get farther than about 15% into this book - the author was trying to do too much and juggle too many characters too early on, which would have been fine if the book had any sort of hook or anything original or interesting going on. Lacking that, it was just tedious.

“She wondered if they could whisper how old the earth truly was. If she stood in perfect darkness, perhaps she could feel the ground miles beneath her, cold and wet and ravenous. Perhaps she could sense the other side of the world when it was bathed in night. Cradled in shadow, she could be anywhere and everywhere. She could do anything.”

This book had me in a chokehold and didn’t let go until the last page. THE CITY OF DUSK is a smart, moody fantasy novel, the first in a series. It’s both sprawling and intimate, introducing us to a vast world of angry gods, disconnected realms, and centuries-old feuds, as well as the emotional lives and close relationships of each of the four main characters. Everyone is gay, or messy, or most of the time both; I found myself rooting for each of them, even when they were working against each other (though I have a definite soft spot for Taesia). There’s all kinds of magical powers: necromancy, elemental forces (sometimes channeled through music), control over shadows, light speed, the ability to speak to beasts and summon demons. I loved watching the characters grow with their powers - discovering them, deepening them, struggling to access them - and I’m very excited to see where they all go in future books. Scheming to overthrow the monarchy is always a fun treat, and I liked the taste we got of other realms through the refugees currently stranded in Nexus. The fight sequences are so well-crafted; a screen adaptation of this series would be amazing. It’s intricately plotted, with multiple threads woven throughout that culminate in the climax and several mysteries left to be explored in the rest of the series (though it did feel a little chaotic at times tracking what each of the characters knew about which bits). And the writing! It’s gorgeous and evocative and utterly engrossing. I found the sections that focus on grief or connecting to our monstrous side to be particularly good. The vibes are immaculate, absolutely recommend this, can’t wait to read the rest of the series when it’s out. Thanks to Orbit Books for the eARC!

Content warnings: violence, murder, a little light cannibalism, imprisonment, loss of a loved one/grief

The City of Dusk is a fantastic first installment in a brand new epic fantasy series. In this world there are four realms that each have a god, and each god has an heir. The gods long ago blocked the kingdom off from the other realms. Because of this all the realms are wasting away. When an opportunity comes to change things, all four heirs must come together to try and save their city.

The four heirs have always been pitted against each other as only one of them can be selected to rule. Each of the heirs have their own abilities. Angelica is an elementalist, Risha is a necromancer, Taesia is a shadow weirder, and Nikolas a soldier. Each have their own secrets and hang ups. Can they come together and do what needs to be done, or will they be their own downfall.

This is a great book for fans of multiple POV. I would recommend this for anyone who is a fan of Six of Crows or Game of Thrones. The world building is fantastic and richly detailed. Each character has their own unique voice. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

This book was really good. I enjoyed the difference in the realms. It gave me dark avatar the last airbender vibes, minus the chosen one trope. This story has four chosen ones who have to work together all while trying to betray their families and realms. I liked the magic system and the writing was very easy to follow. This book reads like a YA but has those new adult situations. I will definitely be continuing this series and already bought a copy to add to my shelves. Also the art work on the cover is amazing. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

i'll be upfront and say that this was way too long. it could've been cut down and still hold the same content. i never really felt fully drawn in so reading felt like a chore almost. the setting however was so interesting and the vibes were incredible. i'm sad i didn't like it more but it was still a strong story!

This was a slowwwwwwww read for me. Content heavy with a ton of characters and sub plots. There is a LOT going on. I had to slowly chip away at this book. What would normally take me a week or two to complete, took me weeks. This is to not say that it's bad. It's a slow burn, It has a slow build. It has a build up to an EPIC battle at the end. Each heir is so unique and with so many layered tropes. Taesia, the morally gray character, wants to do by the people but is also willing to do some bad things to make that happen. Each heir is battling with their sense of duty: duty to their House, duty to their king, duty to their God. Each character is dealing with their own respective struggles in the game of politics their positions require.

This is a complex book with multiple sub-plots and really requires the reader to pay attention to everything, keep track of all the side plot points that are going on. This high fantasy is worth starting. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

I am super grateful to Orbit Books for granting me an advanced reader's copy to the first epic book in The Dark Gods trilogy.

I unfortunately could not connect with this book, so I had to DNF. Which is lame because it seemed like something I would love, and the cover is amazing. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, and it was quite confusing. This major thing happened and there are ramifications of that major thing, but we find out it happened 500 years ago, and the world is just now suffering? I just wasn't enjoying myself.

The City of Dusk has four noble houses each with a different kind of magic. The heirs of each house form an alliance to bring the gods favor back to their kingdom before it is too late.

This is the first book in a dark fantasy trilogy. It delivered big time on the dark magic. This book with filled with necromancy and shadow magic. There were a lot of different characters that were hard to follow at times. However, the plot was deliciously dark with great action sequences and plenty of reveals that made this a very enjoyable read. I will say it was a bit on the long side so I would put aside a significant chunk of time to get through this one. The magic system, religion with the gods, and politics of this world were all great. I would recommend this book for fans of dark fantasy.

{3.5 stars}

The City of Dusk is set in a world that is dying. Abandoned long ago by the gods, the heirs to the great houses are hoping for a way to reconnect their realms and reestablish the power which fuels the world. 

This one starts off with wayyyy too many characters and the chapters jump from POV to POV. I usually love this tactic but it was a lot to take in along with all of the world building. I got there eventually but I wish there had been a slightly more easy path to get there. The characters are all rich and interesting and bada**. The threats are real but I wish we were given more clues along the way to be trying to solve the mystery of how to reunite the world and the gods along with the heirs. 

The end is bananas action and there are some jaw dropping reveals. I’m glad I didn’t DNF this one when I was overwhelmed, I was rewarded by powering through.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The City of Dusk follows five main characters, each is the heir to a noble family. Each heir has their own issues with being the heir and the goals of their parents. But things are unraveling and the four heirs may need to take things into their own hands. They may need to work together despite some of them not liking one another. But the more they learn about what they might need to do, the more muddled things seem.
I really enjoyed this book. The fantasy world is interesting and well explained so I felt like I could easily understand how things were set up, geographically and politically. The politics were the main part of the plot of this book. I thought the backstory about the four families and the gods/their belief system was engaging and kept me interested. But most of all, I was compelled by the characters.
I’m not going to go in-depth on each one because I think what I have to say could be giving some stuff away, but only if I specify which characters. This book really surprised me with how dark things turned. As these four heirs (and a mysterious fifth character that I really loved) work together to try and save their world, they explore their abilities, their relationships, and the things they’ll do to reach their goals. Some of these characters turned pretty dark as they found the depths of their powers and I actually really loved that. I think one of the four main characters may end up turning into a villain in the future and I’m honestly so here for that.
Overall, this was an engaging first installment of a fantasy trilogy. There was some good world-building, characters that I really got to know and care about, interesting magic, and an ending that left me excited for the next book.