This story picks up two months into Chrysantha Stathos marriage to the old lecherous Duke she married, with him on his dying bed. Alessandra, her sister, is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers. Chrysantha thinks she has finally found her freedom, both financially and from under a man's control with her husband's death, but Eryx Demos, the man claiming to be the rightful heir and grandson to her deceased husband, threatens to take all that away. Chrysantha must find a way to get back what she feels is rightfully hers, all while keeping herself from falling for the handsome grandson of the duke who is trying to take it from her.

Chrysantha’s character shows how deceptively complex she can be throughout the story. She pretends to be simple to get what she wants but also uses her cunning to pursue her desires. Eryx is complex himself, hiding his own demon and trying to keep Chrysantha from finding him out. It's a butting of heads and a game of chess while trying not to fall for each other.

This sequel was an easy read in the Stathos sister's adventures in love. Overall, I felt it was pretty predictable at times and it didn't relly pick up until about half in, but I really enjoy Tricia Levenseller's writing and can't wait to read more adventures she comes up with.

Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

This wasn’t quite as intoxicating and deliciously dark and witty as the previous book. While I respect the hustle that the author gives her FMCs, I just found the FMC here a bit too much for me to take. The sister rivalry also felt much too drawn out and bitter which weighted down the story.

I was very disappointed by this book. I have loved most of Levenseller's books. This one dragged for me. The ending is relatively predictable which is fine, but it wasn't very enjoyable. The banter between the characters felt stiff. The tension was overwrought.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

5 Stars

This book was SO SO GOOD. I genuinely forgot how much I loved this world and how quickly I get sucked into Levenseller’s writing.

Just like Shadows Between Us, the pacing moves quickly, and the story grips you from the first scene. I love that both books are stand alone romantsy stories but are about two different sisters so you get that familiarity of characters without having had to read the other book. But as a treat, it was so much fun to see the Shadow King and his Queen several times in this story.

Our main characters in The Darkness Within Us were A DELIGHT. Chrysantha is tired of being a pawn in men’s lives and just wants freedom. She has worked so hard to position herself to finance her life and live freely only to have that carefully executed plan go to crap when Eryx shows up. He is the heir to Chrysantha’s late husband’s estate. The heir she didn’t know existed. The heir that has secrets that she will use to gain her freedom again. Problem is……as she learns Eyrx’s secrets, she realizes they have a lot in common.

I couldn’t put the book down and hated to see it end. It was incredible and I can’t wait to reread it one day. I also read via audio and the narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life.

Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for the e-ARC of The Darkness Within Us!

This one is a spinoff of The Shadows Between Us, focusing on Chrysantha, Alessandra’s sister. She’s pretty much a mirror of Alessandra—self-centered, sneaky, and a murderer. Honestly, it felt pretty similar to the first book, so if you liked that one, you’ll probably enjoy this too.

While it’s marketed as YA, the mature themes (including off-page sex) make it lean more toward New Adult. I struggled to get into it, which is why it took me a bit to review. It wasn’t for me, but it might click better with others!

I enjoyed this a lot more than I enjoyed reading The Shadow Betweens Us. And my love for morally grey men, made me enjoy it that much more.

4.25 stars

As a fan of The Shadows Between Us, I was pleasantly surprised by this book getting announced! These books are definitely read because of our main "bad" girl characters. I love how the author commits to the bit and they stay in a morally gray area but we as readers still respect their motivations for being bad. I really enjoyed seeing how the sisters got to understand each other and their relationship evolved. Plus the banter (and really all of the dialogue from Chrysantha) is just * chef's kiss. * The twists and pacing were all fun and engaging, just like the first book. Loved how this sequel of sorts lives up to the original!

I have enjoyed all books that I have read by Tricia Levenseller and this was no exception. Chrysantha's portrayal in The Shadow's Between Us made her an intriguing character and had me itching to read this. Chrysantha's hidden independence and cunning nature was well done and her interactions with the 'heir' were entertaining. If you enjoyed the previous book and were intrigued, or maybe even a little put off by Chrysantha and her choices, give this book a try.

I absolutely loved The Shadows Between Us and I feel like this book came out of nowhere and I was so excited to get back into this universe. I was not a fan of Crysantha at all, so it took me a bit to get into the story. She was just so self centered and ruthless, so it was a bit tough to be in her head and she frustrated me from beginning to end. Still, I truly understood her motivations about wanting true freedom, so even when I wanted to shake her, I couldn’t argue that she had a point.
I loved the conflict and relationship between her and Eryx. Their uneasy truces and constant battling of each other was fun and entertaining. I loved watching it unfold.
I ended up loving how to story progressed and how it all came together, but I have to admit that I was kind of aggravated by Crysantha quite often, so I definitely didn’t enjoy it was much as the first book or in the same way, but it was good!
I do recommend this book and I think fans of slowburn enemies to lovers will love it.

Thank you Net Galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I love this author but this book seemed a different vibe than the others. Still a strong female lead but there was more innuendo than past books and it didn't work for me. Still love this author and will try again.

The Darkness Within Us is a dynamic companion to The Shadows Between Us. Taken alone, each book tells the struggle of a young woman to thrive in a world full of barriers. The twist is that the two protagonists are sisters who hold conflicting opinions of each other. The Darkness introduces us to a strategic and determined young woman named Chrysantha. Her actions throughout the book keep the reader engaged. There are several side characters who move the plot along in thoughtful ways. If you enjoy enemies to lovers, this is a book for you. Fans of The Shadows Between Us will be happy to see interactions between the sisters. I highly recommend reading both books to fully experience how these sisters navigate their challenging world.

You don’t need to read the first book to devour this one! This was sooo great on its own. I love Tricia’s writing. She has a way of luring you in and not put it down until you know what’s going on. The connection from the first book to the second book is subtle & a great way for readers to connect. The angst & banter from the protagonist and the boy is really funny and interesting. I loved that the sisters have a lot more in common than they thought and evolved their relationship for the better. Beware this book will make you horny & want horns. Thank you so much Tricia Levenseller, the publisher, and NetGalley! A great fall read for 2024!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

*The Darkness Within Us* by Tricia Levenseller is a gripping fantasy that explores the complexities of morality, power, and the struggle between light and darkness. Levenseller’s vivid world-building draws readers in from the very first page, creating an immersive experience filled with intrigue and suspense.

The protagonist is well-developed, navigating a rich inner landscape that mirrors the external conflicts she faces. Levenseller does an excellent job of portraying her character's vulnerabilities and strengths, making her journey relatable and compelling. The supporting cast adds depth to the story, each bringing their own motivations and challenges that enrich the narrative.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. While some themes felt familiar, Levenseller manages to inject fresh perspectives that elevate the story. However, there were moments where certain plot points could have been more thoroughly explored, leaving me wanting a bit more resolution in some areas.

Overall, *The Darkness Within Us* is a captivating read that blends adventure with thought-provoking themes. It’s a great pick for fans of fantasy who enjoy complex characters and moral dilemmas. I can’t wait to see what Levenseller has in store next!

I completely loved this book. Chrysantha and Eryx are such strong characters and so well developed! The scenes were set out with enough detail to picture the scenes as I was reading.

If you love strong female characters with strong male counterparts you will definitely enjoy this book

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillans. Children’s Publishing Group for this advanced readers copy and this is my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

Tricia Levenseller has never let me down. Her stories are always immersive and entertaining with just a hint of darkness that draws a reader in immediately. I can not wait to see what she puts out next

In The Darkness Within Us we follow Chrysantha who feels bested by her sister Alessandra since she was able to capture to eye and heart of the Shadow King, Chrysantha pretended to be a air head and in order to become a duchess and and marry an old dying duke. Once he passes she has the wealth and freedom she’s always desired, that is until the dukes estrange grandson claims to inherit the wealth. Now she must get him out her way.

I was not the biggest fan of this book. In fact I quite dislike it. The characters were not very likable and the rivalry between the sisters seems one sided and very immature. I understand the characters were about 19 but Chrysantha spoke more like a 15 year old. The sister seemed to be very feministic which was awesome but I feel like all the new feminist inspired laws she passed was unrealistic for the type of era this book would take place in.

In all the plot fell flat, the characters were flat and overall the book was not enjoyable

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Tricia Levenseller gives life to female characters that aren’t afraid of ambition, and will tear down the sky to achieve their goals. What I love most, is that the goal doesn’t have to be something thrilling like being a ruler of a kingdom, it could also be to be one’s own keeper. This was the story that I didn’t know I needed and it rekindled my spirit during a moment in time where I was feeling down, and I fell head first into a story that genuinely surprised me. I didn’t think I could love Alessandra’s sister after reading The Shadows Between Us, but Levenseller turned my world upside down, falling in love with Chrysantha even more.

The Darkness Within Us is a companion novel to The Shadows Between Us, taking place in the same world but focusing on Alessandra’s sister Chrysantha Stathos. Please keep in mind there might be spoilers to the previous book, so tread carefully!

In securing her position as a duchess, she has successfully won the game she played her entire life. All she has to do is wait for the wealthy old man she’s married to pass on so she can inherit his money, titles, but above all else: her freedom. In an unfortunate twist of events, it seems her sister has upended her life by marrying the shadow king, and upon her husband’s death, a man claiming to be his grandson has come into the picture. There’s no way she’s going to let this man take what is rightfully hers, and she will do whatever it takes to get it.

I was so conflicted when I picked this book up, only because I adore Alessandra so much. However, I was intrigued by what would happen between these two sisters over the course of this book. I was pleasantly surprised by Chrysantha as everything we’ve gotten to know about her in the previous book has been a façade. What I loved most was that although she donned a mask of a vapid beauty, she was rather honest with her goals. She yearns for freedom and the ability to make her own decisions. I loved that we got to explore just exactly what that meant for her, and for those around her, with particular regard to her sister. Chrysantha’s interactions with Alessandra were some of my favourites because we got to tear away the issues that created their tension and see their relationship take a turn. As it turns out, when Chrysantha finally lets her walls down she’s also a bit of a romantic, yearning for the experience of romance without being tied down by a guy.

When Eryx Demos arrives, everything gets flipped upside down for Chrysantha, and an intricate chess game begins. Chrysantha is not willing to go back to the cage she was just freed from, and Eryx is hiding a dangerous secret that she’s desperate to exploit to prevent her from losing everything she worked for. Their interactions are fraught with pent up frustration, and quite a bit of attraction. Regardless of her attraction to the interloper of her rightfully won fortune, she is ruthless in her pursuit to dominate. Eryx has met his match, to be sure. Their romance is very much enemies to lovers I would say, and I devoured every bit of them I got to read.

By the time I finished this book, the one thing that I was sure of was that I didn’t know where the story would go next. If you’re looking for a book where the female protagonist is a damsel in distress, you’re looking in the wrong place. However, if you’re looking for a bit of a villainess who lives by the arrow of her own moral compass, you will likely love this book as well as The Shadows Between Us. The only thing that I feel people might not love is that the relationship between Alessandra and Chrysantha seemed a little unrealistic for the way that it was set up in the previous book. That could have been something that was developed over the course of the book and it was not.

Overall, this was an incredibly satisfying read that I hope you’ll definitely add to your TBR list! I’m so happy to have my copy sitting alongside The Shadows Between Us. Now I just need some bookish art of the characters to go along with it.