To a Darker Shore is full to the brim of what I love in a book! It has well-developed characters, angst, mutual pining, critiques of religion, monsters, and poignant themes.

In Soladisa, either you’re virtuous and useful or you end up food for a monster. What keeps the island country safe is a deal struck long ago: each tithing, a sinful teenager is sacrificed to a horrible monster across the poison sea in hell. Seventeen-year-old Alesta—plain, poor, plus-sized, and autistic—is desperate for one of her inventions to be deemed worthy enough to keep her from being tithed. When her latest invention goes awry, Kyr (her best friend and the kingdom’s heir) takes the blame, hoping for leniency, only to be tithed in her place. Angry and grieving, Alesta travels to hell to end the sacrifices forever, only to find her friend monstrously transformed. As their feelings for each other grow, Alesta and Kyr race to escape hell and find the truth behind the tithes.

I thoroughly enjoyed following Alesta and Kyr’s story. Both of their POVs are engaging, and their fierce determination to protect one another will have readers eager for them to confess their feelings to each other. Schwartz’s descriptions have so much imagery, she raises the stakes incredibly well, and they skillfully tackle themes like self-acceptance and that one’s worth is not determined by their utility. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy that’s full of heart, I highly recommend To a Darker Shore!

Content warnings: light gore and body horror, some bullying/seizist body talk, conflict with a parent over asking autism (internalized but ultimately rejected by the main characters), societal/parental homophobia (with happy outcomes), claustrophobic panic attacks, implied suicidal ideation, illness, loss, and grief

This book is absolutely the most fun you can have on a trip to hell. As an aspec reader myself I adored the swoony, devoted friends-to-lovers romance arc, the fantastic heroine who completely smashes the YA mold, and the it kind of made me want to join in a grotesque monster ball. I also loved A Prayer for Vengeance, and can't wait to see what Leanne Schwartz has for us next, and readers looking for more beautifully written, well-paced YA fantasy with rep and heart should look no further.