“The Darkness Within Us” is an addictive romantic fantasy. I was immediately enraptured with this story; I didn’t want to put it down. The first book in this series was good, but I enjoyed this one much more! I loved seeing Chrysantha’s hidden character revealed, and understanding her motivations. I found the plot to be surprising, full of twists and monsters. The world-building is light and easy to understand. Overall, I really recommend this story!

For those who love:
🎀 Romantasy
🎀 Morally Gray Characters
🎀 Enemies-to-Lovers
🎀 High Society
🎀 Bridgerton
🎀 Forced Proximity
🎀 Upper YA
🎀 Slow Burn

I am very thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I loved this book!! The first book was good but this book was fantastic. Chrysantha is a strong, witty, force to be reckoned with. There were moments that I laughed at loud at her quick retorts, and moments where I groaned out loud because she took so long to admit her feelings.

Representation: 4 (Queernormative world, MC is described as a woman of color but racism doesn't seem like a thing)
Emotion: 4
Characters: 5
Plot: 4
Pacing: 3
Romance: 5

Overall: 4

Levelseller does an excellent job of making me root for murderers.

It's been several years since I read the first book, but this sequel had a lot of the same vibes and feelings that left lasting impressions on me from the first book. I was grinning and giggling at the characters hate-to-love antics. It's been a long time since I read a book in (almost) one sitting.

The pacing at the end was a bit rushed. I would have liked more tension for the climax and more time to linger in the resolution.

Tricia Levenseller is so talented and I forget just how much I enjoy her books. So rarely do enemies to lovers feel real to me. Often the attraction is obvious from the start and the arguments feel forced. In this book Chrysantha and Eryx clash from the start. Their arguments are angry and frequent. The plot moves at a good pace and the character growth is there. I appreciated the side plot about Chrysantha and her sister. It was a great way to balance the other things happening in the story. I also appreciated the feminist elements that were incorporated in a natural way. The setting was great, I loved that we got to know so many people at the manor. The romance is not spicy, but there is kissing and some light sexual content. Older teens and new adult readers would like enjoy it. I love love loved this book and definitely need to go reread the first one.
Thank you so much netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Definitely a great edition to the series and will be continuing. Although it did leave a bit to be desired with the speed of the story.

Chrysantha was an amazing lead character. She is a total opposite of Alessandra but there are similarities still, the biggest about both of them wanting freedom first. The duchess is tending to her old husband hoping he will die and she will inherit everything. For a bit, her life was perfect after the duke dies with no heirs and only the duchess to inherit everything. But an impostor claims to be the heir to the duke and takes everything away from her.
Chrysantha is positive she can find his secrets and disown him to take back everything she is due. Seeing her schemes and cleverness was the most fun in this book. Once we get Eryx’s backstory the scenery changes and they both have an undeniable chemistry.
I will totally buy this one.

okay i ate this up!!
this book is for the romantasy girlies!! i had SO much fun while reading this one! it is definitely a slowwww burn on the romance aspect but the plot carries. it’s intriguing and unique but still filled with the tropes i love and funny banter.
the chemistry between the two main characters is crazy?!??
i love that this book feels new but also like a lot of the other romantasy-enemies to lovers books i’ve fallen in love with! (if i like it i’ll just get it in another color)
the first half i was like oh this is fun i’m intrigued and then the second half my heart was pumping! i was giggling and gasping and having so much fun!
the MMC in this is everything!! eryx is a grumpy man with secrets and he falls HARD! he’s so down bad for her it’s not even funny. his love declarations?! so good?! i’m in love!
more thoughts:
-i love that these true are TRUE enemies !! not just like ahahah i hate u but i really don’t. nah she wants this man DEAD at first
-i love the little book club between chrysantha and her staff. so precious. i love when they talk about the enemies to lovers trope WITHIN the book!! iconic!
-when he talks about her when he thinks she can’t hear>>>
-some men barge into her room and hit her and touch her and he kills every. single. one. of. them. for laying hands on her ✋🏽
-“you would have had everything you wanted.” “not everything”🤭🤭
-the letter. i’m sorry??
-“i love you. i fought loving you, but it was as inevitable as the sun rising every day. for you are my equal in nearly every way and my superior in all the rest” goodbye???
the ending was really rushed in my opinion, but i’m still rating it five stars for the vibes 🤠
as for spice.. this is technically a YA read but i definitely feel like it fits more into the new adult category.
there is no on page spice scenes, but there is a LOT of talk about sex & taking mistresses & quite a bit of sexual tension. the first chapter had a SA scene and while it wasn’t graphic, it was shocking to see in a YA book.
also, this book is technically the second in the series but it definitely could be read as a stand alone! i read the shadows between us (the first book) and i remember loving it but i can’t remember like anything about the story so i was basically reading this as a stand alone hahaha
alright that’s all. loved it🤠🤠

I adore the Stathos sisters so much,. I love how similar, yet different they are. Chrysantha and Eryx's story did not disappoint. The overall format/style of this book matched the first, instead of at court we are in the countryside. Chrysantha is not who she appears in book 1; she is so. much. more. My favorite surprise in this story: the tiptoe into monster romance that it offers! I was NOT aware of that tidbit ahead of time. I LOVED IT. I really enjoyed this series - although I'm not super sure this is a series. Books 1 and 2 are companions; both are complete stories that can be read as standalones or in sequence. I will say, if you're going to read both, read them in order. Book 2 would spoil a lot of details in book 1.

Levenseller's books are all great, quick reads with a lot of depth in her characters. I personally enjoy eyeball reading and listening to her audiobooks. For this series, Caitlin Davies did a beautiful job on the narrations. I loved both audiobooks in this series (both were narrated by her). I highly recommend both reading modes but would sway to the audiobook if I had to chose 1.

In this book, you can expect a legit enemies to lovers (dare I say monster) romance with dashes of aristocracy intrigue, social/feminist defiance, and more than one mystery will need to be solved.

Thank you NetGalley, Tricia Levenseller, and Macmillan Children's Pub for the eARC.

This book definitely felt like a continuation of “The Shadows Between Us” and it was fun to revisit that world. It definitely took some turns I wasn’t expecting, but the main character was very similar to her sister.

Some convenient problem-solving and big actions without consequences. And more innuendo than I prefer in a YA, but everything else screams YA. Overall, I enjoy Levenseller’s writing style!

Tricia Levenseller is the queen of strong, badass women characters. Chrysantha is so witty and clever, and just wants a life of freedom. The writing of this book is everything you loved about The Shadows Between Us – fast-paced and exciting with a hint of plotting and mystery. Definitely a little bit spicier than the first, this book is essentially closed door, but there are some weighty topics – like violence and prostitution – so this may be more advanced YA than other YA romantasy books. I was so excited to receive this ARC – Thank you Tricia + team! – and I think anyone who loved Alessandra’s story will love this one as well.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
4.5/5 stars

This novel was a quick read for me. Just like The Shadows Between Us, it starts with conflict and keeps adding to it. I personally liked Alessandra more than Chrysantha, but she is also strong, independent, and morally gray. The sisters remind me of Emilia and Vittoria from Kingdom Of the Wicked. Eryx is a great MMC; I would swoon over him any day. I wish the world building tied together more nicely, and the main conflict toward the end was resolved a bit too easily for me.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Fewiel & Friends, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Darkness Within Us on July 9, 2024.

I had such high hopes for this book since I absolutely LOVED the first one. I expected the world, writing, and characters to pop as much as they did in The Shadows Between Us. Unfortunately, this companion/sequel novel fell flat for me.

Chrysantha as a character felt one-dimensional and repetitive. I felt like I was being bludgeoned over the head with the reminder of how she gave up her "true" personality for years to get what she wanted, and the repetitiveness made me sympathize less with her struggles. Eryx felt similarly one-sided and just kind of... boring to me? The monster was the most interesting aspect, but we don't get a hint of ANY fantasy elements whatsoever until almost halfway through the book.

It almost read more like a historical romance than a fantasy book until the very end when Kallias returns and we see more of Eryx's beastly side. And nothing's wrong with that, but I definitely entered the book with different expectations. The romance felt very contrived as well, and it was just more difficult to get behind Chrysantha and Eryx as a couple.

I will say this -- if you always thought the Beast in the animated Disney movie was more hot than the human prince at the end, this is the book for you. The story still has scheming and murder and inheritance conflicts, but I think they just weren't executed well enough for my taste.

I will admit that I was not a fan of The Shadows Between Us, so I was unsure of what to expect from The Darkness Within Us. I absolutely loved it! Lady Chrysantha finally has the life she’s always wanted. She played dumb for years so people would underestimate her. She married an old sickly Duke without heirs so that she could inherit his estate and his wealth and finally be independent, without a man making decisions for her. The Duke dies and she’s ready to live her dream until handsome soldier Eryx Demos arrives at her estate. He claims to be the late Duke’s grandson and that the estate and the money belong to him. Eryx also has a secret which Chrysantha is desperate to figure out. She spends most of the book plotting how to get rid of him, but the pair can’t deny their fascination with each other. It’s the enemies/rivals to lovers trope done very well and I really enjoyed it. I also liked the dynamic between Chrysantha and her sister Alessandra, who marries the Shadow King Kallias from The Shadows Between Us. The relationship between the two was developed in this book and it added a lot to the story.

Tricia Levenseller's "The Darkness Within Us" throws us into the whirlwind world of Chrysantha Stathos, a woman who has mastered the art of playing the game. With cunning disguised as charm, she's secured a wealthy title and awaits freedom upon her husband's demise. But fate, it seems, has a taste for the unexpected.

Enter a mysterious grandson, Eryx Demos, who threatens Chrysantha's carefully laid plans. Add to that a gloating younger sister on the cusp of becoming Queen, and Chrysantha finds herself with a double dose of trouble.

This novel thrives on its morally grey characters. Chrysantha is as ambitious as she is ruthless, a refreshing departure from the damsel-in-distress trope. Her motivations are clear, her methods questionable, making her a complex and intriguing protagonist. Eryx Demos is shrouded in secrecy, a potential enemy with a hidden agenda. The tension between him and Chrysantha simmers throughout the story, adding a layer of intrigue to the plot.

While the world-building is light, the story itself is fast-paced and action-packed. Levenseller's sharp wit shines through the dialogue, laced with sarcasm and dark humor. The plot takes some surprising turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

If you enjoy heroines who defy expectations and a touch of dark romance, "The Darkness Within Us" is a must-read. Just be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat!


The novel is likely targeted towards an upper Young Adult or New Adult audience due to some suggestive content.
Fans of Levenseller's previous work, "The Shadows Between Us," will find familiar characters and references throughout the story, though it can still be enjoyed as a standalone.
Readers who prefer a deeper exploration of the world and its magic system might find this aspect underdeveloped.
Overall, "The Darkness Within Us" is a captivating tale of ambition, revenge, and a hint of forbidden love. It's a perfect pick for readers who crave a thrilling adventure with a strong, cunning protagonist.

I have not read the other book in this series, The Shadows Between Us, but the premise for this one sounded interesting so I took a chance.
Now that I've finished it, I am looking forward to reading The Shadows Between Us next!
This is the tale of a noble'girl', Chrysantha, (not quite yet a woman at 19) who marries a much older Duke for money and the freedom that will come with his imminent demise. She gets both, only to have them taken away when the Duke's long lost grandson, Eryx, shows up to claim her newly won inheritance.
What follows is a page turning game of cat and mouse between the handsome new Duke and the Dowager Duchess. Both beautiful creatures, one with a horrifying secret he must protect at all costs.
The first third of the book is a slow burn. As in, verging on boring. We get a lot of Chrysantha musing about her anger at losing her manor house and riches to Eryx, what she went through to acquire her inheritance, what she plans to do now, how she plans to do it, etc, etc.
When things finally pick up, hoo boy, the action is fast and furious and wildly entertaining. At that point, I couldn't put it down, I had to know what would happen next! And a lot happens, trust me.
So, to recap: loved this book, looking forward to reading the companion book, and hoping the next book doesn't take too long to show up.

I wavered between 4.5 and 5 stars for this one. But, at the end of the day, it was a 5-star read for me. I think my main qualms were based solely on the first book that takes place in this world. However, The Darkness Within Us really checked all my boxes as far as pacing, storytelling, and emotional impact. I was left wanting more, not to say that Levenseller doesn't hit the mark, but more in the way that these characters will now live rent-free in my brain for the foreseeable future. It's also made me want to read The Shadows Between Us all over again. So, I think it's safe to say I'm officially salivating for more of this world made for anti-heroes and villains.

This book was wonderful! I loved the twists and turns that happened! Eryx and Chrysantha were such fun characters to read about. I loved the "My Fair Lady" aspect of this story. It was a minor part, but so much fun! And it's always good to see Kallias and Alessandra :) I had so much fun reading this book and am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this wonderful story!

Chrysantha Stathos finally achieves peace, a widow with freedom to do as she pleases while maintaining her own residence happily in her manor. Such peace doesn’t last long when the grandson of her late husband appears, claiming the dukedom and taking everything away from her. Desperate to get her peace and home back, Chrysantha plans to try and get rid of the duke, but the mysterious and alluring man makes it rather difficult…

I could not put this down! It was so good, from start to finish. I really enjoyed the characters, even the side ones and learning little things about them. It was fantastic to see Alessandra and Kallias from The Shadows Between Us. I missed them! I’m so glad for the pleasant surprise of this sequel.

The cover is absolutely stunning also.

I really enjoyed the tension and banter between Chrysantha and Eryx. I am a sucker for good tension and couldn’t get enough of it! I wish there was more of them, as well as Alessandra and Kallias, their interactions were fun. I wouldn’t have been mad if the book had gone on for longer. It definitely has some of my favorite tropes.

Highly recommend to those who’ve read Alessandra’s story and those who love a good romance with tension, bickering, horns and more!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the chance to read an arc of this book.

Tricia Levenseller's THE DARKNESS WITHIN US was just as delicious as I hoped it would be. I devoured this novel. It's as good as THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US, which I honestly didn't think could be topped. The opening chapter is just as strong and the writing, overall, is phenomenal. One does not need to have read THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US first but why not? There are no lulls in the plot, so I never felt like I had to skim through, and the characters are compelling--so many empowered young women who challenge patriarchal norms. Levenseller took the vapid, condescending sister and turned Chrysantha into such a sympathetic heroine who you cheer on even through her morally questionable choices. I am hesitant to comment on much else lest I spoil things, but I cannot recommend this novel enough (along with its predecessor). Levenseller is just a fantastic storyteller. I cannot wait to read whatever story she decides to tell next.

An absolute favorite of mine. It was a pleasure to read again and I’m so excited to get to own in the new beautiful packaging with the sprayed edges. I’m glad this book is getting a new lift and more attention because it fabulous and deserves a boost.