Can we normalize authors recapping the previous books in the series when a sequel or next installment in the series comes out? It saves so much time and is such a boon to someone like me who has memory issues.

Our Deadly Designs picks up not very long after the events at the end of This Dark Descent, though not immediately after. Despite ODD containing a recap of TDD, I did go back and re-familiarize myself with the first book in this duology and have come to realize I liked it better than my posted review makes it sound like (maybe I was just in a bad mood that day, who knows). At the beginning of this book our quartet is physically fractured, with Mikira living back on her family’s ranch and the others living together at Damien’s estate. If you look closer, you can see there are smaller fractures between Damien, Arielle, and Reid too. Concerns left unspoken are breeding resentment and fomenting distrust.

I liked ODD a little more than I did TDD because of the increase in political intrigue, the creative and effective magic system, the compelling and highly-developed characters, and the much-needed introduction of Damien’s POV (TDD only had Arielle and Mikira’s POVs and I thought the book kind of suffered for it).

TDD’s plot depended more on action and adventure for the story line, with the horse races forming the structure of the plot, but the themes of the book were more about pride, loss, friendship, found family, and power. ODD trades the action and adventure for magic and politics but keeps the same themes. Our quartet has to lose before they can truly win, and it makes for an entertaining read. A great duology all around.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Book Duology/Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/Fantasy Duology/Found Family/LGBTQ Fantasy/Political Fantasy/YA Book Series/YA Duology/YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy/YA Fiction

I really enjoyed the first book so was eager to see what happened next. Not as much action but lots of problems. Our favorite gang is torn apart and one just keeps hoping they will find a way back. The rebels take center stage. Satisfying ending but not without heartbreak.

Our Deadly Designs starts right where the first book left off, it's a story with more political intrigue. It has multiple POVs, this time 3 people, Damien, Arielle, and Mikira, which is great because it gives more context, I love how this book shows that your actions have consequences, the event and plots of the first book, here we see their resolution and there is a lot of drama and plot twists.

The characters are multidimensional, they can be a little morally grey, especially Damien, you can understand his actions but not always justify them; with Arielle, you suffer with her and understand fear of using her magic, and with Mikira, the fact that she and Damien are on opposite sides makes me feel anxious and worried. They feel like real persons, who make mistakes and get into trouble, who have fears and want a better life, they will frustrate you but you also care about them.

The first book was more about characters and their relationships, this one is more about the consequences of their actions and there is a certain distance between them, there are secrets and fears that they do not want to reveal or admit, but they will have to do so to reconcile them.

The world-building is so interesting and unique. The author mixes classic fantasy with Jewish folklore, with themes like political corruption, a society hungry for power, personal growth, friendship, family, and forgiveness. It's slower than the first book, and there's less action. Something that I loved in the first book was the race and the magic, something that is not so present here.

There's not much I can say without giving away the plot. You have to read it if you enjoy the first book. However, if you like stories like Six of Crows, stories with political intrigue, quests, plots, morally grey characters, and a diverse and fun gang, this is for you. It's a great duology that falls between YA and NA; it feels mature and unique.

Thanks for the copy tbrandbeyondtours  and Macmillan Children's

Read it if you like:
• Duologies
• Political fantasy drama
• Morally gray characters

I would like to thank TBR and Beyond Book Tours and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Our Deadly Designs is the second book in the This Dark Descent Duology by Kalyn Josephson. This was an exciting YA Romantasy novel steeped in Jewish Mythology. The race was over, but the stakes were higher: the future of Enderlain. The primary conspirators in the first novel were torn apart by differing need or sense of betrayal, but the four would need to find their way back to each other or everything would be lost. Read above for book synopsis. This spellbinding sequel was as amazing as the Their Dark Descent! I was already invested before reading the first word due to the initial novel, and it didn’t disappoint me. It was filled with excitement, suspense, and political intrigue as well as unexpected twists and turns. So many characters had hidden agendas or secrets from each other that it was unsurprising how much trust broke down in a very unstable political and economic climate. I was glued to the page. At times it was hard to figure out who the good guys were. I still found it easiest identify with both Mikira and Arielle, each of who were doing the best they could to stay safe and do the right things in a dangerous world which was stacked against them. If you are a reader who enjoys YA Fantasy Romance, I feel confident that you will love this new novel by Kalyn Josephson. It is worth more than five stars and I recommend it without hesitation.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the eARC of this book!

This was one of my more anticipated sequels of the year, and it has gone above and beyond my expectations!

The characters of the first book return, and they are just as lovable as the first book! As an ace person, I felt so happy to see a further look into Mikira's asexuality (and aromanticism!). She was a great representation of my community, and I loved seeing how she grew throughout the book. Ari was everything, and I loved that she wasn't pushed into a villainous role because of what had happened in the last book. And while I did get slightly annoyed with Damian at times (sometimes there can be too much brooding, lol!), the path his character went down was believable and I could see why he was so broody throughout the story. And the further depth of some of the side characters (Rezek, Talyanna, Eshin, and Shira) was great. I felt so much more endeared to all of them, despite their actions of the previous book.

The magic and worldbuilding within this books just made the world seem so much more complete, and I loved the additions we had. I would have loved a little more about the Harbingers (but maybe there's room for another book there....), and maybe a little more about those godstones. I loved the increase of information about the Heretics, and the stuff about the books!!

The plot was so high-stakes, and I needed to know what happened next at every moment. The twists were so twist-y, and there were things I never even predicted that occurred! I did, however, predict one thing around the 50% mark, but the characters only put the puzzle pieces together close to the 85% mark, and that was painful at times to read because it was so obvious. But other than that, I loved every aspect of the story.

"Trust your instincts, little lion."
This is an awaited second book. I love the cover a lot. A dark fantasy with a complex plot, more than one POV with intrigue and plot twists. I love a well-done world-building story. The book has a beautiful family tree double page that helps us keep track of characters. It is also a great audiobook read. My favorite character is Arielle.

This book has numerous representations that I adored: Jewish, bisexual, and asexual rep.

This is a masterful conclusion to a stellar duology that gives everything you want from a finale. Josephson not only raises the stakes from the first book but manages to keep the plot moving at a breakneck speed while pulling her characters through increasingly complex, darker layers of their world due to their own choices and fears. The first book laid down intricate world-building and a unique magic system, and this one takes it further, filling in every shadowy corner with history, danger, and intrigue.

Josephson’s characters are deeply flawed, incredibly relatable, and sometimes downright exasperating—but that’s what makes them so compelling. Each of them is dealing with personal ambitions, old loyalties, fears, and tangled secrets that have a way of pulling them apart even as they’re trying to find their way back to one another. The theme of unity in the face of chaos feels so genuine here, even if it takes quite a while; you can sense the real stakes of the decisions they’re making, and how crucial their bonds are for holding back the forces threatening to tear their city apart. This is a story about strength through unity, especially in a world that tests it at every turn.

On top of the well-developed characters, I loved the infusion of Jewish mythology—it’s refreshing and lends a distinctiveness to the series that enhances the magic and lore. The diverse representation is authentic and weaves seamlessly into the story, adding to the world’s complexity. It’s rare for a duology to feel this complete and satisfying, and this doesn’t miss a beat. This book wraps up the story with such an intense mix of heartbreak, hope, and triumph that it solidified its place as one of my all-time favorite YA duologies.

My only complaint is that we didn't get enough of Reid.

Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and TBR and Beyond Tours for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to read and review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
I struggled to get invested in this book. While book one had the excitement of the Illinir Races and Ari’s discoveries with her magic, this book seemed to drag on and on until the last quarter of the story. Then everything came together for a riveting and worthwhile ending.

I pushed through mainly to find out what was happening with Ari and her magic and her connection to the Heretic. I was bored with Damian’s political chess game maneuverings and Mikira’s work with the rebellion. All of it was important, of course, but this book felt like it had pushed aside the best aspects of book one (high stakes horse race and character interactions and banter) to further a bigger, albeit unnecessary plotline. I almost wish This Dark Descent had been a standalone.

This would have been a 3-star read for me, but the ending plus the world building bumped my opinion a half star higher. I still think fans of Six of Crows will enjoy this duology and Damian really reminds me so much of Kaz Brekker if Kaz had ambitions beyond being king of the Barrel.

Our Deadly Designs is book two in the This Dark Descent series by Kalyn Josephson.
An intriguing high-stakes novel that moved quick and kept me engaged throughout the whole story, a page-turner that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

First off, more sequels need small recaps of the previous book(s) at the beginning, because the quick summary of the previous book in this one was soooooooo helpful.

That being said, I enjoyed this book much better than its predecessor. I think a big part of this was the pacing was so intense. Once you get past the 35%-ish mark, it’s like go, go, go, and I couldn’t stop reading.

I loved Ari’s character journey and her allowing herself to forgive herself and confront her fears. Her friendships with Mikira and Reid also just fill my heart with joy, it’s so wholesome.

I honestly think I like the platonic relationships in this story more than the romantic ones. Which brings me to…

This might be a hot take, but I honestly love Mikira and Damien’s complex relationship. It’s by no means romantic, but they are so similar but handle that in a different way, I actually wish they had way more time on the page together. I just think they could be grudgingly best friends if they had enough time.

Very much like how the ending sequence played out, again, the plot felt very cinematic. Also enjoyed the resolve of Mikira’s “love triangle” with Reid and Talyanna, I was shocked about how it turned out, but not mad about it in the slightest.

Overall, really enjoyed this book, recommend this duology!!!

This was a fantastic conclusion to the duology. It was fun to see the story from more than just the girls points of view. Although there was an introduction with a reminder of what has happened so far, I would not recommend skipping book 1.

Our Deadly Designs was a magnificent read. As the sequel and final book in the duology it did a great job with the limited space it had. I really wish it had been a trilogy so that it had the room to breath that it deserved. Despite that it was a great read. Fast paced, action packed, and packed with plenty of twists. What I loved the most was the overall message of not letting fear guide your life. That those that live with a collective generational trauma should not let their actions be informed by it or risk inflicting the same horror on others.

Once a fearsome team strong enough to defeat all the odds, Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid are crumbling under the pressure. With Damien's fight for the power to make sweeping changes in Enderlain coming before anything else, Mikira resolves to join up with the rebels while Ari seeks to free herself from the dark magic controlling her. Reid, desperate to keep things together as much as possible, finds himself caught in the crosshairs.

However, the Heretics are rising once more. And it's going to take all four of them working together to save the kingdom from another Cataclysm.

I cannot express how much I love this duology. Jewish fantasy in YA is practically unheard of, and the only time I cried during this book was a tender moment centered on Jewish mourning customs. Seeing my culture reflected in the pages of these books is beyond words. And it's not just the Jewishness! Kira's asexuality and her loved ones' acceptance of who she is was beautiful and comforting; a representation hard to come by in any kind of novel right now.

These characters are lovingly crafted. You can't help but root for them even as they make glaring mistakes and failures in communication, because they are so real. I'm a sucker for imperfect characters slowly developing into their best selves and Josephson does an incredible job with her characterization. All in all: This is a beautifully crafted story with a satisfying ending. I dock a star because even I can only take so much of the miscommunication trope...

I really loved This Dark Descent so I was very excited to read the sequel. However, I feel slightly let down because of the relationships tampering out and no tournament to increase the stakes. From the first book I really enjoyed the dynamic between Mikira, Reid, Arielle, and Damien so I was sad that there wasn't a lot of them together. I did enjoy the addition of getting to know Talyana, Shira, and Eshlin more. I especially love the Ace storyline going on with Mikita, Reid, and Talyana. Their dynamic and banter was greatly needed. For the most part I just found the plot dull, confusing, and not as entertaining as the last book. I felt like the world building took a turn for the worst and left me more confused. I still don't fully understand the differences in magic binding with the books, bloodstones, and chimeras, nor how the heretics are able to transfer magic and take over a person. Which also made the ending even more confusing by revealing Jenest as a harbinger and then not giving any other details regarding what exactly that means... I would have liked Ari's sister Rivkah and Mikita's sisters more involved in the story (and less of Rezek honestly) because to me it didn't make sense for Mikita's dad to just up and leave Mikira to fend for herself and for Arielle to constantly leave Rivkah behind.

I thought the universal themes of forgiveness, corruption, friendship, and trust were expertly crafted between characters and throughout the storyline. I just felt like some of the emotion was missing for me because I didn't feel as connected to the characters or invested in them as I did in the first book. I also found myself quite bored at times, like in certain places the pacing was off and could have benefited from more showing and less telling. I appreciated that the plot wasn't predictable, but at the same time, all the added magical elements and heretic takeover made it so confusing that I could even come up with a solid solution other than killing them all. Overall, compared to the first book, I didn't like this as much due to the added plot complications, relationship/friendship dynamic changes, and lack of connection.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I honestly had trouble getting into this book after the break in between reading the first. I liked it a lot, I just felt like something wasn't fully clicking into place for me. I think these books are best enjoyed back to back.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, all thoughts and options are my own*

I was absolutely THRILLED to receive this ARC as I gave the first book, This Dark Descent, 5 stars.

Overall, this was a very solid sequel with compelling characters you want to root for, a gripping plot and a satisfying conclusion.

I don't say this very often but I almost feel like this duology could have benefited from being three books instead of two. There were two main plots in this story that, at times, felt more like they were fighting for dominance rather than working harmoniously together.

I love Damien and Ari’s relationship and I felt like they both had great character growth. I don’t think there was enough Mikira and Reid scenes and I’m still unsure how I feel about Talyana.

Overall this was an amazing 4 star sequel and I can’t wait to read more from her.

Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson - eBook ARC from NetGalley

Returning to Enderlain felt like reuniting with old friends—Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid bring all the found-family vibes you could hope for! This time around, the stakes are higher, the pace is quick, and there’s no chance of getting bored. Kalyn Josephson really nails that balance between fantasy and thriller here, adding a deliciously dark layer to the story.

With torn kingdoms, dark family secrets, and the mystery of a lost heir to the throne, there’s plenty of drama to keep you turning the pages. Plus, the unique touch of Jewish mythology woven into this fantasy world makes everything feel fresh and unforgettable. And just when you think you’ve figured things out, we finally uncover the truth behind Damien’s arch-nemesis.

Our Deadly Designs was even better than book one—which is saying something!

I liked the first one fine, but was underwhelmed trying to get into this one. I’ve had a lot of issues with multi-POV books anyway, and this one didn’t captivate me, especially with the additional POV that wasn’t in the prior book

I was so excited after book 1 to hopefully get more of a Reid romance because I was really looking forward to him getting more time to shine but this just wasn't it. His storyline was what kept me going and I'm sad he didn't get more romance.

I thought I would like this more than This Dark Descent because there isn’t a tournament in this one, but I think the author’s writing just isn’t for me. The plot drags on a bit and I’m just not very invested in the characters or their relationships.

That said, I think there are interesting themes in this about the nature of power, forgiveness, and government corruption, that you wouldn’t necessarily see in most YA novels about rebellion. I also really enjoyed the Jewish culture and folklore.

If you liked the first book, you’ll likely enjoy this, but if you were mixed on it, there isn’t much here that will change your feelings.