This book was a surprise. I loved the premise, and picked it up expecting a fantasy epic.
What I got was a deep dive into depression, with a fantasy world used as a coping mechanism and a way for the MC to work through her feelings. There are a lot of trigger warnings - check them, this book won't be for everyone.
I can honestly say it stands out as original in a market where a lot of fantasy books can feel a little same-y. While the big bad in the fantasy world did have a touch of the 'nothing' from The Neverending Story, the approach was individual.

However, if you go into Kill Your Darlings looking for a straightforward fantasy take, you are going to be disappointed. It is not the next big fantasy book. As a reader, we drop straight into the story - world building isn't a main focus, and there are a few points where information is just dropped on us (and on the other characters) by the omniscient narrator/MC. I, personally, felt that the fantasy story was supposed to be taking a backseat to the character's emotional journey, so I didn't find this to be an issue.

I'm gonna hit the 5star. For originality. For the emotional gut-punch (get a box of tissues for the last 20% 😭). For a fresh insight into the battle with depression. And just because I'm certain that even if I read 300 books this year, I'll still be able to tell you the name and author of this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for letting me read an advance copy of Kill Your Darlings in exchange for an independent review.

Incredibly powerful and deeply emotional

Kyla is an author struggling with her mental health and trying very hard to meet her deadlines. The only place she feels good is in the world she created: the realm of Solera. When she wakes up trapped in this fantasy world in the body of her main character and surrounded by all the characters she created and loves, she almost wants to just stay there. But she knows what's about to happen, and the ending she had planned is not an happy one. Determined to save her characters from the tragic fate she had written for them, she decides to help them save their world.

This book is absolutely breathtaking. I did not expect to be so moved by everything, but this is exactly the type of story that you don't forget. The type of book that you will think about regularly forever because of how deep and intense and unique it is. I completely fell into this story and as a writer myself, I easily related to Kyla and how she feels when meeting her characters in real life. It was beautifully heartbreaking, and with Kyla's story being a hard and painful one, everything I felt was even more intense. The fantasy story in itself was really entertaining to read, full of twists and turns, magic and dragons. But the deeper meaning behind it all and the revelations we got at the end are what truly moved me in a way I never had been before. I was crying my heart out for the final part of the book, but this story isn't just about the struggles of mental health and depression, and that's what I love about it. It's also about how you can save yourself if only you find it in you to fight. It's about how even if the world and characters you created don't exist, they can help you face real life and the struggles that hurt you everyday. It's about how writing can save lives, and that's something so beautiful and true that it deserves to be celebrated. So thank you for writing such an emotional story that has changed me as a writer and as a person.

I highly recommend this beautiful story about mental health, found family and surviving. /!\ PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS VERY INTENSE /!\

"Her dreams were dead, and so was she."

TW: suicide, depression, violence, blood, war, death, murder, selfharm, anxiety

3.5
First and foremost, the author made sure to send a list of trigger warning before I read it, which I think is such an important practice. Essentially, our mc is an author who is struggling with depression, intrusive thoughts, and suicidal ideations. I think reading from this perspective, while hard because she is not likable in the slightest sometimes, is kind of a weight-lifting experience. She is our worst side of ourselves when we are struggling. This is a story of mental illness and trying to heal set into a somewhat fantasy setting that's used as a tool for telling this story, not the as the actual story itself if that makes sense. It did lag a bit at times and I have a difficult time rating this because the concept and conversation within it are phenomenal, but the execution lacks a bit for me.

“Stories do exist for a reason. A good story has a magic of its own. A great story has the power to change the world.”

Thank you to L.E. Harper and her publishing team for the DRC through Edelweiss! It was initially on Netgalley, but it got archived back in February and I wasn’t able to read it. Nevertheless, this doesn’t affect my review in any way.

Check TWs before reading this book. It talks about depression, suicide, and overdose. Kindly avoid Chapter 27 if this sort of content might trigger you.

Getting transported into a fantasy book is definitely a situation anyone would want to wake up to. However, what if you were there by accident? Kyla, the author of a best-selling fantasy series suddenly awakens in a world she built in her imagination. Initially thinking it was a dream come true to meet her darlings, she notices how she isn’t supposed to be there at all. And as she traverses through what she believes is a dream, she soon realizes that there’s a danger lurking in the shadows of her new reality; one that could kill them all.

Perfect for fans of the Freaky Friday trope! Kill My Darlings is a fast-paced allegorical novel with lots of engaging action scenes and had a lot to unpack in terms of its world building and an interesting magic system that cleverly bound the laws of magic and physics. There’s no denying Kyla is quite the spirit animal of everyone who loves to read and seeks comfort in fiction. This book has a very adorable found family trope, with funny banter, and trivial romance between our heroes. It also openly discussed themes such as depression and anxiety with sensitivity, making it easy for me to connect with Kyla’s character. Each of the main characters have their own personality, though not quite unique in terms of a fantasy book, was still nevertheless enjoyable. Overall, this book is a must-read and offers creative and adventurous prose while talking about mental health andbeing brave to walk through redemption and growth in a sympathetic manner.

Kill Your Darlings was an interesting read, to say the least. I really had no expectations going into it, but it was pretty enjoyable. I’m a big fan of books about authors and this was definitely sounded unique. I’ve read books about readers transporting to their favourite book world, but never an author in the world they created. Such a fun synopsis and it was done pretty well.

The pacing of the book was a little off for me though, it seemed to move extremely slow and then all of a sudden the book started to reach its climax and I was left wondering what had actually happened.

Now, I’m not going to be too harsh about the contents of the book because it’s a personal story that I think is based on the author's life (not the fantasy world part, obviously). You could definitely tell that this book means a lot to the author and that it is a very personal story to be telling - this is why I’ve included the content warnings in this review, there are a lot of heavy topics explored and I need to give a huge trigger warning for chapter 27 onwards. It has very detailed and vivid descriptions of self-harm. Stay safe!

The main cast of characters were quite likeable and I enjoyed hearing about their different species and how they related to the book author’s real life (Kyla, not L.E Harper, this could get very confusing). I don’t think you actually learn the author in the book’s name, I know it isn’t actually Kyla because she goes to say it at one point, but stops herself. I’m not sure if I liked not knowing or if I’m a bit dissatisfied with never finding out.

This leads to my next point. I would have liked to spend some time with the author in the real world. The ending of the story explains why this wasn’t possible, but having a section at the start in the real world would have made Solera feel so much more magical.

Overall Kill Your Darlings was an interesting read, but it did start to drag around the middle. The pacing was way too slow and it felt like there were a lot of events and descriptions repeated too many times.

If you are looking for a fantasy read that doesn’t have romance (asexual rep!) then I’d recommend Kill Your Darlings. Just be aware that it’s a little slow and covers some very heavy topics.

2.5⭐️

After submitting a drastically dramatic draft for the final book of her successful fantasy series, Kyla is being forced to rewrite a majority of the story. That night, she slips into what she thinks is another lucid dream of Solera, the setting of her books. As always, she takes the form of Kyla Starblade, the chosen one main character and spends time with the characters she has created. But when she is unable to wake up like normal, she understands what’s wrong.

The draft of the book she had submitted showed Kyla winning the battle against Lord Zalor, but at the cost of the other main characters; Asher based on her best friend Eric, Rexa based on her cousin Lindsay, and love interest Valen. She must convince these characters that she can now prevent their deaths and help them defeat Zalor. She’s the author of the story, so how hard could it be?

I really wanted to like this. A story where the author is stuck in their own book, and that book contains asexual representation, an unreliable narrator, mental health discussions and dragons? What more could I ask for. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of how the story came together.

One complaint is that you don’t really see any of the “successful fantasy series.” By the author telling the reader what they need to know rather than having the text show what’s important, that fantasy series felt very unfinished. The characters also didn’t feel fully fleshed out and were constantly described based of their human counterparts who we never actually meet. And the fact that the characters so easily went along with Kyla’s explanation of being an author that created was the most unbelievable choice.

When I was approved for this arc on Netgalley, the author sent out trigger warnings before anyone could read, which I appreciate. But people need to be aware that their is very graphic description of a suicide attempt and living with depression. In the acknowledgements, the author says this is basically her autobiography and her way of writing about her experiences. What bothered me, though, is how the MC discusses both her depression and her asexuality with the characters in the story. The interactions came across as almost manipulative, especially the asexuality conversations.

Thanks Netgalley and the pub company for approving me for this ARC.

One of the more annoying parts of the isekai/wish fulfillment genre is that often a character will go from living a sad, lonely, depressed life in the real world, then having their entire lives turned around by arriving in a magical land. Indeed, to suddenly be in a world where you're powerful and adored is sure help lighten the gloom, but at the end of the day, no matter where you go, the one common denominator is YOU. Whatever doubts and fears you had in your real life would surely carry on to the new one, right? Fortunately, this is the exact question L.E. Harper's harrowing and powerful new work seeks to answer.

As an neuro-atypical asexual, I'm an easy in for this book. There are few times I've felt quite as seen as in the final few chapters of Harper's novel. Though my actions have never quite gone as far as our protagonist's, there have been plenty of dark moments in my life where I've walked the similar path. One of the true wonders of Kill Your Darlings is that it makes these moments feel so real; though the fantasy elements may feel rote, the emotional moments hit like bullets.

Kill Your Darlings is not an easy read. It's breezy, whimsical early chapters may lead one to believe that this is all fun and games, but as the book enters its second half, its dark side comes to the fore. Reading through Chapter 27 of this novel was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life, but also one of the most fulfilling, as I felt a sense of kinship with the author in a way I'd rarely felt before. You could tell there's deep pain in the words of the author, especially as you read the author's bio. For all its darkness though, Kill Your Darlings is never without its sense of hope, and the importance of moving on, of trying to better ourselves. There's a light at the end of every tunnel, no matter how dark that tunnel may get.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNFed the book at 11%

The premise is interesting, but for personal reasons I can't continue reading this book (which is on me, I should have known before requesting an ARC). I'm sorry, both to the author and the publisher.
I might come back to it when I'm in a better headspace, but at the moment I don't think it's a good idea for me to continue reading. Still, I wish the author the best with the release of Kill Your Darlings scheduled for the end of May, and all their next projects.

Have you ever wanted to meet the darlings of a fictional world you created? What if you do and you find that the world, and your reason for being there, isn’t all exactly as it seems?

In Kill Your Darlings that’s exactly what happens! Kyla, a writer, is trapped in the magical world of Solera, a world created as an escape from her reality. In order to save her darlings-the characters she loves and holds dearly-and to save this magical place, she must defeat the darkness that plagues the world… and herself.

This was a masterfully written work of art that is rooted in reality and truth. Even though the premise seems like an alluring fantasy, as we read we find that this book is a heartbreakingly brave exploration of depression and mental health that follows a characters journey as she rediscovers her will to overcome the darkness within to survive and live.

What you’ll find in this story:
⁃ Asexual rep
⁃ Mental health rep
⁃ Magical alternate reality
⁃ Dragons (who doesn’t love dragons?!)
⁃ Epic battles
⁃ Found family
⁃ Hope

If you read this, grab a tissue box and be prepared, because this one will force you to face your own darkness and leave you completely altered by the end. (No seriously, I was a sobbing mess by the end and well after. Grab the tissues.)

(TW- depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm. Please review the authors note before reading.)

Thanks to NetGalley, L.E. Harper, and the publisher for the ARC! I am so honored to have been able to read this and cannot wait for my physical copy to come!

A good fantasy driven account of a personal journey through depression. The escapism into another world was very well done. The author having created the world knew the characters well and was attached to them greatly. I did not get that connection as the reader instead I felt like I was observing their journey, which I didn’t dislike.
Overall a story with dragons and adventure whist addressing mental health.
3.5 ⭐️

Kill Your Darlings is a portal fantasy where the author is transported to the (dark) fantasy world she has created. The book deals with dark themes regarding mental health, so make sure you check the trigger warnings and make sure you're in a good headspace yourself. This book is for those of us who read books as part of our healing process. It reminds me of a tiktok in which someone mentioned that their therapist told them to stop reading self-help books and instead start reading fiction. There is something healing to be able to relate to a character and watch that character overcome their struggles.

This book feels like a deeply personal project come to live.

This book touches on some very serious topics so please take trigger warnings seriously.

This book baffled me in a good and bad way because I felt lost as one minute I was in a happy fantasy the next I was in a very serious book.

I do not recommend this book if you a re looking for something light and easy to read.

I originally requested this one as the premise of an author waking up in her world reminded me so much of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. The addition though of the journey with mental illness made the story something else entirely. The way this material was written was raw and emotional, but overall an inspiring story. The inclusion of a lengthy but informative content warning was very much appreciated.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy!

I enjoyed reading Kill your darlings. It kept me entertained and hooked the whole time.
Thank you Netgalley for ARC in exchange of my honest feedback

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Kyla wakes up in the fantasy world she created and has written about. She tries to find out how she got there and how to get back.
I did not like her as a character. The twist of her not being a published author made her choices for her writing completely negated. Her attitude about being ace was annoying and made her sound whiney.

I'm finding it quite hard to rate and review this book. I'm giving it 3.5 stars rounded up. I originally requested it because I was drawn by the premise - an author waking up in her own fantasy book, surrounded by her own characters and thrown into a hero's journey to save them.

I had my doubts around the middle part of this book, something about the writing or the story made it difficult for me to connect to the characters, but I'm glad I kept reading until the end, as everything clicked and I understood what the writer was doing.

While I can't say I enjoyed reading this book because of the very dark themes it explores, I appreciate the hopeful message the writer was trying to convey. I also realise how personal this book is and its depiction of mental health issues like depression, self-loathing, etc. I could certainly relate to the main character's struggles, and I feel like a younger version of me would have found solace in this book's pages. The asexual representation was a welcome bonus surprise.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, thank you!

What happens when you get stuck in your own story? When your demons become real and your projected character traits and faults are found in the characters who now have to help you complete your quest so you can go back to reality. But what if reality is less cool than a world with magic and dragons. What if the life you had to go back to was full of depression, frustration, and stress. Would you actually want to go back?

This book is hard to read but is good. It addresses depression, and how deep the voice of depression Can really go. It discusses asexuality and how that can be isolating. This book addresses self love in a way that isn’t preachy or too much.

The characters are interesting, and even though the side characters are meant to be fictional characters “come to life,” the side characters are also interesting and well developed.

TW for suicide attempt, depression, acephobia.

This is not a light-hearted fantasy novel. It is a fantastical novel with excellent world building, but it simultaneously deals with some pretty heavy topics. Go into this one with the right frame of mind and you will be rewarded with a great fantasy novel with a fresh concept.

Kyra / the author often dreams about the fantasy world she created. But she soon discovers that she cannot simply wake up this time. She sets off on a Hero's Journey to save her "darlings", the characters she created, from impending doom, hoping that will fix her characters' lives in her created world and fix her depressed life on Earth / the real world.

I hadn't heard of the phrase "Kill Your Darlings" before reading this. It refers to not only removing characters from your storyline regardless of how much you care about them, but also removing flowery prose and extra information. Something I see a lot in fiction today. The self-referencing book about books with Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, this writer phrase, and remarks about the difficulties of the publishing industry, add unique twists and characterizations to the novel.

It's a fun portal fantasy. Who doesn't dream of waking up in a fantasy world? But the author also shows how most of us would not be prepared! I know I wouldn't be.

The novel does delve into some dark themes around self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depression.
Thank you NetGalley, L.E. Harper, and Shivnath Productions for selecting me to read this ARC.

K!ll Your Darlings by L.E. Harper
⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5
Pub. Date : May 24th, 2023

I would like to thank @NetGalley and @authorlizardharper for a copy of the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

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First, because it's important to mention : DRAGONS! Now that it's out of the way, let's see what this book is about.

The main character is an author struggling with financial and mental health problems as well as writer's block. She frequently visits her novel setting while dreaming but this time, it's different. She's stuck in this fictional world and can't seem to be able to go back to reality. She has no other choice but to reveal herself to her characters and help them defeat the villain.

I must say that this book was incredible! While the MC, the author, seemed to know her characters, they started to have a mind of their own and she discovers they are all part of herself. I fell in love with every characters and their refusal to give up, always pushing the author to try and resolve the problem. It was such an interesting concept!

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This novel was dealing with heavy subjects and I must recommend you to check your TW before going into this book as some depictions are very graphic.