This Dark Descent follow Mikira, a girl trying to save her family and their horse ranch from a greedy and antagonistic noble and Arielle, an enchanter unregistered with the crown and forbidden, powerful magic. The girls are brought together by a young man, Damien, who makes a deal with both that will give them all something they desperately want.

Arielle and Mikira were both great characters and I'm torn on which one was my favorite. I loved Ari for her connection (and disconnection) to the Jewish religion of this book. I loved Mikira for the love of her horses and her sisters and her desire to protect her family.

There was also a lot of casual queerness (and no homophobia) amongst the background characters and the implication of demisexuality and bisexuality/pansexuality with Ari and Mikira.

The thing I found most interesting about this book was its approach to Judaism. There are so many books that take Christianity and create a fantasy religion based on it, but I've never seen that done with Judaism. And even though this was fantasy Judaism, it was still implicitly Jewish, the way Ari and Damien talked about the foundations of it in their world and the different traditions, was so Jewish. The way golems were used was my favorite. I feel like often in media, golems are used to be scary, but golems are meant to protect and that's a big part of the golems that Ari makes.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

An action-packed fantasy adventure filled with forbidden magic and enchanted horses. Throw in a little romance and you have all the elements of a great story.

This book was honestly one of the best I’ve read this year. It was so good. I’m still trying to process the last few chapters. I really hope everything works out in the sequel because I am awed. Love, betrayal, friendships old and new tested to their limits, and enchanted horses rest at the heart of this novel. I’m not familiar with Jewish mythology, but I feel like a learned a lot here and I loved it.

Damien and Reid were my favorite characters with Reid being in the lead. I loved how sweet and grumpy he was. While I appreciated the relationships the book tried to set up, I didn’t see slot of chemistry with Damien and Ari. I felt like there was a lot with Reid and Kira. He stayed with her a lot and helped her with her training. He was always around her. Damien just liked Ari because she was there? It seemed random. I also appreciated Ari saying she was demi, but again it felt random and didn’t really go anywhere or mean anything in the end.

Those last few chapters were CRAZY. Everything just popped off and hit the fan. I’m so ready for the second book to come out. This was a brilliant fantasy with moments that tugged at my heart and moments my blood boiled. I never thought id be interested in the world of competitive horse racing, but here we are!

"Jewish mobster Mariokart book" SAY NO MORE!!

If you've been craving to fill your Six of Crows hole in your life, look no further! This book needs to be on your 2023 TBR. Every turn of this story will have your heart racing as fast and as strong as Atara. This is another finish at 3am book because you will not be able to put it down as we weave between steadfast, but a bit naïve Mikira, our desperate jockey, and our illegal enchanter, Ari, who may just have a monster lurking beneath the surface. Say nothing of Peaky Blinder Thomas Shelby-esque young lord, Damien, and his standoffish "fixer" of a bestie, Reid. Add a VERY ILLEGAL golem of a horse to the mix, and we're off to the races!

For my own sanity, y'all better make this book pop because I need the sequel tomorrow and I'm gonna give Kalyn Josephson all my money to have it! ALSO HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT AMAZING COVER?

I received a free ebook edition from Netgalley and am never paid for my opinions. (I might need to be since I'm about to be out of so much money this Fall release season!!!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

If you like morally grey characters then This Dark Descent is the book for you!

This book is told from dual POVs. It follows Mikira and Ari. Both girls are trying to fix problems that they have in their lives. The fantasy world in this book has a very interesting magical system. The world building was also fantastic.

This books is a little dark, but very entertaining. I loved the found family aspect of the story. Also, Reid is perfection 😍 and I will fight anyone who says otherwise! I really loved Ari’s character and I liked Makira, but she got on my nerves a few times. She never fully realized what it required to fight back in the world she lived in and judged others for doing what they needed to in order to survive.

Pretty much every main character in this story was morally grey which I loved. This book has a little romance, but it really takes a back seat to the rest of the plot. The book ended on a pretty big cliff hanger so be aware of that. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series when it comes out!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I hadn’t read anything by Kalyn Josephson before, but my attention was piqued by the premise of This Dark Descent. It promised to be a mix of some cool elements, from Jewish mythology to horse breeding and racing, and a blood feud among noble families. I’m happy to say it delivered pretty much on all counts.
I enjoyed seeing all these elements come together, especially in how the magic and mythological elements influenced the races themselves. And while the races form a great avenue to present the world and magic, I like how they also present a vehicle to foreshadow the deeper implications and higher stakes of the situation for the characters.
As far as the characters are concerned, there are two POV characters, Mikira and Arielle, and a third major character, Damien. Mikira is competing the races in order to save her horse-breeder family from debt, and she has the most compelling arc throughout, as she spends the book being generally morally upright, although her character takes a turn towards the end of the book. Ari, who crosses paths with Mikira, and ends up helping her with the races, is a refugee who is hiding her powers and has yet to fully come into her own in that regard. And while Damien isn’t a POV character, he’s pretty compelling in his own right, being that he’s rather dark and mysterious, keeping a lot of secrets. All of them are morally gray to varying degrees, and it definitely kept me on my toes trying to figure out what they’d do next.
That and the general intrigue of the races and the wider world politics made this book a pretty consistently immersive read. It’s fairly fast-paced, and there’s no real lull in the action, with it being balanced fairly well with character depth and world building.
This is an intriguing first installment, and I’d recommend it to fans of YA fantasy.

Really loved this one! Comparable to The Scorpio Races, This Dark Descent was a wild ride from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the racing scenes. The incorporation of Jewish mythology isn’t something we see a lot of in YA, and I was excited to learn more about it. All 4 main characters were well fleshed out and had satisfying arcs. The only thing I wish we had gotten more on is the magic system as it could be a bit confusing at times. I’ll definitely be reading the second one to find out what happens next!

This Dark Descent is a Jewish-inspired high fantasy that’s pitched as The Shadows Between Us meets Six of Crows meets The Scorpio Races.
I can see the Scorpio Races comp, but the other two… not so much.

From the very first chapter, this books weaknesses were apparent—not enough development, not enough depth.
The inciting incident of this book happens during the second scene. This is the moment where Mikira makes the decision that sets the plot in motion, the moment of no return. She wagers everything she has to save her father. But because this happens so early on, it packs no emotional punch. We’ve had maybe 5 pages to get to know Mikira, and this scene is the first time we’ve seen or even heard mention of her father. There hasn’t been any development to make the reader care about Mikira or her father, so I couldn’t connect with the emotion of that scene. I wasn’t convinced by Mikira’s supposed desperation to save him. The dramatics of the moment rang hollow to me. Not to mention the fact that the bargain that Mikira makes…doesn’t make sense. She makes a deal that she objectively knows that she cannot possibly win. If she wins, she gets her father back, but if she loses, she and all her siblings are as good as dead. If she wins, yes, she’s better off, but Mikira does not think she can win.

The weak start aside, for the next 30% of the book, I was enjoying myself. The reason why this was happening still didn’t make sense, but as long as I didn’t think about that aspect, I was able to get sucked into what was happening. I enjoyed getting to learn a little about the lore and getting to meet our cast of characters. I especially enjoyed Arielle’s narration in these earlier chapters and getting to know her. I was interested in the race, the building of the golem-horse, and the plot surrounding that.

But at about 30-35%, several new plotlines were added—politics, demonic possession, romantic subplots, war/antiwar, and more. None of it was fleshed out, and none of it meshed together. We jumped from plotline to plotline, nothing really progressing on page, never diving deep into any of them. There was suddenly so much going on, in so few pages, that the story only ever brushed across the surface of these events and aspects of the worldbuilding.
It’s about this point that the romances start to kick in. I really appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation—Mikira is bi and Ari is demisexual/demiromantic. I love seeing rep like that in fantasy, and I really appreciated the inclusion of a discussion about demisexuality/demiromanticism, but the actual conversation was very dry to read. It was like reading the dictionary definition word for word.
I also found it kind of ironic how Ari was like, “now that I’m really getting to know him and connect with him emotionally, I’m starting to be able to fall for him romantically!” because my #1 complaint with the romance in this book is that we never see them interact, and when they do there’s no real depth to it. It’s emotionless. Damien says some pretty words, but they’re just words and because there’s no accompanying depth to the actual interactions, actions, descriptions of feelings, etc, it rings hollow and the words just seem manipulative. There was not a single spark of chemistry between Ari and Damien—or between Mikira and either or her love interests—but it was especially painful to read because Damien and Ari were constantly like, verbally professing their love for each other and I was so completely unconvinced.

It also drove me absolutely mad how this one character is like, so blatantly possessed and either no one cared or no one could figure it out. She’s like “There’s this voice in my head and it’s maybe influencing my thoughts and also I’m starting to lose time.” But she doesn’t like, do anything about it. And neither does the person she tells. Like, THAT FEELS PRETTY FREAKING IMPORTANT TO ME!
Honestly, by the end of this book I could not stand a single one of these characters. They were annoying and their actions and thoughts constantly contradicted themselves and just… made no sense.

The last thing I want to touch on is the worldbuilding. The book takes place in the empirical kingdom of Enderlain (or something like that), but Ari is Kinnish, and the Kinnish people are based on Jewish people. Their religion and magic (Kinnism) are based on Jewish folklore and myths. The development and representation of these people was beautiful. It was so clearly an ode to the author’s love of her religion and culture. The discussions had on this topic were phenomenal and real and had true resonance in a way that… pretty much nothing else in the book had. If everything in the book was executed to that level, it could’ve been a 5 star read. Unfortunately, I think that the level of care, development, and detail that the Kinnish aspects of worldbuilding had made the surface level, bare bones development of all the other aspects of worldbuilding and character even more obvious.
If it still interests you, give it a try, but I don’t personally recommend this book, and I won’t be continuing with the series.

I gotta tell you, this is a wild ride! Mikira's family is in deep trouble, and winning the deadly Illinir horse race is the only way out. But this race is no joke, riders often end up injured or worse. Mikira teams up with Arielle, who's got some crazy forbidden magic going on, and Damien, a mysterious noble caught in a power struggle. Their mission is intense, filled with secrets, and vengeance is on the menu. The characters are fantastic, especially Mikira and Arielle getting closer. Plus, there's excellent LGBTQIA+ representation. The enchantment-based magic system with Jewish folklore is aces. Overall, this is a rollercoaster of emotions and a recommendation for fantasy fans.

Wow! So unexpected! In a great way!

The Lgbtq rep (yes!!!), the excitement, the nonstop action but with staggering emotions and character development! Really fun read.

I enjoyed this immensely. I feel like this is a great book to pick up if anybody is ever in a book slump. This has everything needed to take a person's (at least mine!) mind off the real world. Basically, this just delivered and hit me in a good way.

Definitely recommend this!

Out September 26, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

This one was great and it kept me wanting to know what was going on. I devoured it in a day! It is a complex story with twists and turns. There’s intrigue, betrayal, politics, murder, love, a deadly race, golems, magic, darkness and morally gray characters..

The good:
- Dual point of view (magic wielder & horse jockey) which helps you see everything that’s going on.
- Very well defined characters.
- Fast pacing
- Keeps you guessing as to the characters true intentions.

The Bad:
- Characters don’t really take responsibility for their bad actions.
- Torture.

Overall it’s a great story and can’t wait to read the next installment.

I received this book from NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Roaring Brook Press as as an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book just wasn't for me. I liked the writing style but I didn't feel connected to the characters and the worldbuilding felt a little underdeveloped for my liking. But I think it's a book that a lot of other people will like, especially if they like horses and high-stakes competition-based stories, which isn't really my thing.

Josephson has crafted an engaging fantasy read full of interesting characters. Switching back and forth between two character point of views serves this story line really well as it allows us to follow both the magical descent and the horse race in full. The inclusion of Jewish folklore within the magical system was particularly engaging and allowed for some great world building, though many readers might look for more detail.s. Many of Josephson's characters reflected other YA with morally grey characterization, though Josephson's characters always seemed to avoid the blame or consequences of their more problematic choices. Hopefully in a follow-up, readers will see a more satisfying characterization. Fans of Six of Crows and Holly Black will appreciate.

this was a really cute book!

thank you to the author, netgalley, and the publisher for this advanced copy to review!

This Dark Descent is an intricate, captivating fantasy for fans of The Scorpio Races and Six of Crows.

While the story itself focuses on a treacherous horse race called the Illinir, this story (much like The Scorpio Races) is about much more than the horse race. There is magic and romance, secrets and betrayal. I love the world Kalyn has created, especially pulling inspiration from Jewish folklore. It has all the darkness and shadows of the Grishaverse but includes more modern technologies and fascinating magical creatures with both the enchanted horses and golems.

The characters were fascinating as well, and I love all the varying relationships and dynamics that develop throughout the novel. This book really keeps you on your toes as the plots weave together and more and more is revealed. At first, I wasn’t sure what the significance of the title was, but by the end, it’s obvious that This Dark Descent is an excellent match. If you’re a fan of characters dipping their toes into morally gray subjects, this is the book for you.

There were a few moments that left me feeling a little disappointed (it felt like there might be one too many things the book was trying to do), but overall the world is immersive, the characters are intriguing, and the plot is thrilling. I look forward to seeing what happens next in book two.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for YA fantasy with a darker edge.

3.5 stars overall

When Mikira's family is threatened by a ruling house and her father imprisoned, it is up to her to do what she can to save them. She makes a deal with her father's captor that if she is able to win the Ilinir horse race on an unenchanted horse, he will free her father and leave her family alone. Her only chance to do so is to find a generous benefactor who will sponsor her in the race. But will aligning with one manipulative political family to escape another leave her and her sisters any better off? Or has she doomed her family with her rash action?

I enjoyed the racing portions of this, along with some of the character development/relationship growth that occurred between the main characters. I had a difficult time at some points keeping the point of views separate and following the politics of the world the author has created. Overall, a decent read, and one that will find an audience with general fantasy readers.

I received a DRC of this from the publisher.

I knew from the first few chapters that this book is exactly my cup of tea. Lots of worldbuilding details to keep track of, but the characters and their dynamics are well worth it!

This book is perfect for fans of Ashlord’s, The Scorpio Races, and Hunger Games. I definitely recommend for any of my horse girls out there and dystopian lovers. This will have you questioning who the good guys are and who you should be afraid of. This is perfect for if you wanted the race to last longer in Ashlords then what it did. I will say the beginning felt a bit rushed but I loved that we followed both of the girls POV and not any of the boys. I enjoyed all the twist but I did yell at the characters a couple times because I was getting mad at them. I also felt like one character had a 180 near the end of the book that I didn’t think fit her character at allll. This is the first book I have read from this author and I definitely want to check out her back list now. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press.

This Dark descent is a wonderful YA Fantasy novel, and I had a fantastic time reading it: compelling from the first page, I flew through this exciting tale of dangerous bets and challenges, secrets and betrayals.

Why you should preorder it already:
✨ for the exciting premise: a deadly competition woven with enchantments and danger; the fight against class inequalities, religious discrimination and war; the friends we find in unlikely places, and more;
✨ for the perfect pacing: it’s fun and compelling without ever getting boring BUT without neglecting emotional moments (which is why I often can't love books that move at brakeless speed: I need slower moments to allow an emotional connection to the characters to develop, and This Dark Descent delivered);
✨ for the characters: LISTEN, I’m so in love with them, okay??
- First you’ve got Mikira, our impulsive but immensely likeable horse rider who’ll stop at nothing to save her family;
- then Arielle, who’s always wanted to be an enchanter but what if she loses herself to the darkness in the process?
- What can I say about Reid, our grumpy emo-boy, except that he’ll bark at you but *will* make you tea every day and patch you up, that he hates dirt, loves animals (WIDGET!!! VERY GOOD CAT) and BLUSHES (I love him ok)
- Finally: Damian, the mysterious young noble who gives hope to Mikira and Arielle but whose motivations are murky—should they trust him? Only the future will tell 👀
✨ for the friendships!!!!! I especially loved Mikira and Arielle getting closer 🖤
✨ for the LGBTQIA+ rep: Mikira is bisexual, Arielle is demiromantic; this is very much a queernorm world;
✨ for the fascinating enchantment-based magic system infused with Jewish folklore (including golems) : I can’t wait to dive into it more in the sequel;
✨ for the animal companions, obviously 🥺

The ending had me on the edge of my seat and to say I CANNOT WAIT to read the sequel would be an understatement. I need more from this world, more from these characters, and I’m convinced many of you will feel the same. Highly recommended.

cw: death (including of a parent), torture, blood/gore, injuries/injuries details, religious discrimination and xenophobia, animal cruelty

Are you looking for a book with...

- Magical high stakes horse racing
- Peaky blinders meets the Scorpio Races
- Jewish based magic and folklore
- Dual POV diverse characters
- Dangerous secrets and unbridled power

This Dark Descent is an upper YA book that brings all the gritty atmosphere of the underbelly of a city mixed with the highlife of the upper elite. It has great morally grey characters, some even unlikable..but honestly in the best of ways that really made them all the more interesting.

This is a great book for fall and if you like horse elements in this story, then this one is for you. I love that danger was always lurking around every corner which made for a really fast paced book when everyone has something to lose. Every character is a little hell bent with something to prove which makes them interesting and when you bring them together the group dynamic is fantastic to read.

With multiple potential romances, hot headed arrogant male leads )but also softer ones), and never knowing who to trust. This Dark Descent is one to add to your TBR.

I LOVE Reid. More of him please.

"I will never tell you to not be angry. When the world has taken so much form you, sometimes anger is all you have left. But if you do nothing with it, it will consume you."

Can't wait to see where the next book takes us.