This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. I attempted to get a ARC at Yallfest but ended up missing it.

Where the Dark Stands Still absolutely blew me away. I loved everything about it. I loved the vibes, I loved the gothic manor that is more than it seems, I loved the folklore, and I loved the characters!

Highly recommend adding this to your tbr if you love gothic fantasy, grumpy X sunshine, forbidden magic, haunted forest, and found family.

A big thanks to YABC for providing an ARC and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think I'll ever emotionally recover from this book.

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek is a YA fantasy stand alone that can best be described as Echo North meets Into the Heartless Wood (or, if Howl's Moving Castle, if Howl turned into a tree instead of a bird). Raised both in a village on the outskirts of the spirit-wood and with the belief that magic is dangeorus, Liska wants nothing more than to be rid of her magic. Thus, sparks an adventure into the spirit wood to find a flower that is able to grant any wish. But instead of finding the flower, Liska encounters to the guardian demon of the woods, the Leszy, who offers her a bargain of one year of servitutde in exchange for her wish. Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past. Those who enter the wood do not always return…

I basically sobbed when I finished this book. Which is quite the accomplishment, as I rarely cry over a book. I think the last one I did, was John Green's The Fault in Our Stars back in 2014. The story is incredible and I absolutely loved the Leszy. Even though he infuriated me with how much of dummy he was with his secrets and constant need to keep Liska away. Just everything about this book was amazing.

The only thing that tripped me up about this book, was it's writing style. But I blame that on my ignorance of slavic mythology, as Poranek throws a lot at the reader. But once you're used to the style and the language it's quite the easy read. I both wanted to finish this book so it was another added to my reading goal, and not because I didn't want it to end.

This was hands down, my favorite book of 2023. Which is quite the title, given I've read over 400 books this year. But this one is certainly up there in my top ten. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would dare listen to my mad ravings. Read this book. You'll thank me later.

This was such a good story and enchanting fairytale. I felt like watching and reading a Ghibli tale. The writing was fantastic and the prose very beautiful. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Big thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had seen the character designs of Leszy a while back and instantly fell in love with them. I had really been anticipating this book a while, but unfortunately a cool character design does not equate to compelling writing. The book was just a bit dull. There were multiple paragraphs where the author lacked varying sentence structure and the characters often seemed as if they were talking at each other rather than to each other; making it really hard for me to be immersed in the story. I could definitely see some people enjoying this, but personally, it’s not for me.

A beautifully written fantasy about a magical girl who makes a deal with a demon to get rid of her powers. Liska has been mistreated her whole life because of her so called “cursed” magic, so she ventures out into demon infested woods in search of a solution. There she encounters the Leszy and enters into a seemingly harmless bargain, which of course turns out to be anything but.

I adored the dark fairytale vibes of this and the elements of folklore. I loved both MCs - the romance was extremely well developed and their banter made me chuckle. The character development was great as well and I loved the side characters in their little found family.

I honestly wasn’t expecting this to be so heartbreaking but also hopeful. It seems like this could be a standalone, but also leaves potential for another book which would be great.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the ARC!

(repasting from my goodreads review)
HOWLS MOVING CASTLE PLOT x LUSH SLAVIC LORE/WRITING LIKE NAOMI NOVIK’S SPINNING SILVER x THE WITCHER'S MONSTERS x ONE DARK WINDOW VIBES x SENTIENT HOUSE AND SENTIENT WOODS...aka THIS RUINED ME PLEASE EVERYONE READ THIS I BEG YOU IT IS PERFECT

OKay now that I'm done screaming...this was a fucking feast of sensations and emotions and I legitimately shed a tear twice at two specific moments (and my friends will tell you....I NEVER CRY at anything).

The characters are perfection!!! The MC is a sad-yet-sunshine-girl-who's-lowkey-funny-as-hell x Howl-coded grumpy demon and they're both WOODLAND IDIOTS I LOVE THEM SO MUCH PLEASE I CANT BREATHE

The plot is very reminiscent to Howl's Moving Castle and it WORKS.

The worldbuilding is a scrumptious feast of sentient woods and sentient manors that are characters themselves and maybe the trees have eyes(?) and it's both CREEPY AND COZY

The prose is actively VERY GOOD and this not a dig on YA or anything, but I truly felt this book could have simply been an Adult book because it really reminds me of Naomi Novik's writing and storytelling but with characters that were just younger rather than it being an young adult book, if you know what I mean?

The ending....guys....I'm in pieces on the floor rolling around crying screaming.

Atmospheric and enchanting, I loved getting lost in this world for a few days. I saw a comp somewhere to Howl's Moving Castle and that's pretty spot-on - the Leszy isn't quite the drama queen that Howl is, but then who is? The ending broke my heart but was also perfect.

Liska has been raised to believe that magic is evil and all magic users are monsters. Including herself. So, she decides to take matters into her own hands by going into the spirit-wood to find the mythical fern flower. A flower she can use to banish her powers for good.

However, everyone who has searched for the fern flower has disappeared. It’s there Liska meets The Leszy, the demon who guards the woods. In exchange for what she wants, Liska has agreed to serve him for one year. But there’s something dark lurking in The Leszy’s manor. Does Liska have the power to destroy it?

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Where the Dark Stands Still by AB Poranek to review! I’m always here for books with dark fairytale vibes, and this book definitely fits the bill.

I saw someone describe this as Howl’s Moving Castle meets Polish folklore, and honestly, that’s the perfect way to describe this book. The gothic manor that Liska finds herself in has a mind of its own, revealing secrets to her that the Leszy (also known as Eliasz) doesn’t want her to know. The way magic works in this book is so interesting, and the intertwining of Polish folklore just adds to it.

The characters are also well done. A main part of the story is Liska trying to deal with the trauma she has from having magic in a society that deems it evil. Eliasz does his best to help her work through this and show her that magic doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Of course, we do get a little romance between them, and the chemistry between them is well done.

I’d imagine if you get the right narrator, this would also make a fantastic audiobook. Parts of the story have a kind of oral history feel to them. If you like dark folklore inspired fantasy, this will definitely be the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Where the Dark Stands Still" by A. B. Poranek is a mesmerizing young adult fantasy novel, perfect for fans of enchanting, dark tales. This story intricately blends magic, danger, and the inner turmoil of accepting one's true nature. It follows the journey of Liska, a girl burdened with a magical power she perceives as monstrous, as she makes a desperate bargain with a demon to rid herself of her abilities.

Poranek's narrative is richly atmospheric, capturing the essence of a world where magic is feared and misunderstood. The spirit-wood, a realm inhabited by demons and unknown horrors, is vividly depicted, creating an eerie and captivating setting. Liska’s quest for the mythical fern flower, believed to grant a wish to banish her powers, sets the stage for a tale of courage, self-discovery, and the complexities of moral choices.

The character of Liska is skillfully crafted, her struggle with her magical abilities and the perception of being a monster is deeply relatable. Her evolution throughout the story is both compelling and emotionally resonant. The Leszy, the demon warden of the spirit-wood, is an intriguing character, shrouded in mystery and ambiguity, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative.

The novel excels in its exploration of themes such as the fear of the unknown, the acceptance of one’s identity, and the price of freedom. Poranek weaves a suspenseful plot filled with twists and turns, as Liska unravels the secrets of The Leszy's past and faces the literal and figurative ghosts that haunt the manor.

However, the novel's dark and complex themes, while engrossing, may not be suitable for all young adult readers. The dense, intricate plot and the exploration of darker elements of fantasy might be challenging for those new to the genre.

Content warnings for themes of dark magic, demons, and self-acceptance are appropriate. The book will appeal most to readers who enjoy YA fantasy with a darker edge, rich world-building, and a strong, character-driven plot.

In conclusion, "Where the Dark Stands Still" is a captivating and thought-provoking fantasy novel that skillfully combines elements of magic, mystery, and personal growth. A. B. Poranek has created a world that is as haunting as it is beautiful, making it a must-read for fans of young adult fantasy seeking a story with depth and darkness.