Thanks to Macmillan Kids for the ARC. Straight political fantasy isn’t always my favorite, and I was hoping for more Kinnish (Jewish) references. But I enjoyed being back with these characters.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was so looking forward to the conclusion of this story. I really fell in love with these characters quickly and I think one thing this book was lacking was the banter I came to enjoy so much. The characters were split up for the majority of the story but this also gave us more insight to how they functioned on their own. Wonderful character development and a great conclusion that leaves us with hope for the future.

First I want to thank Net Galley for the ARC
I read This Dark Descent last year and I’ve been really excited to read this book! I’m happy to say it did not disappoint by any means!
I think overall I enjoyed the 4 main characters dynamic way more in the first book, and I really wish it carried out more in this one. I felt that Damion was really whiny and it becomes annoying but the 2 FMM and Reid CARRIED! I LOVED all the political intrigue in this book it was really fun!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan, for making my entire year by allowing me an eARC copy of my most anticipated 2024 release in exchange for an honest review!

Where do I even begin with all the things I loved about Our Deadly Designs 😫 This is the second duology from Kalyn I have devoured, and ODD only further solidified Kalyn as a favorite/auto-buy author.

Marketed as The Shadows Between Us meets The Scorpio Races, This Dark Descent (book 1) involves a deadly horse race full of (literal) backstabbing, political maneuvers, and magic we only begin to see the depths of. ODD (which graciously has a recap of book one) takes a storyline with already high stakes and intrigue, and ramps it up to a crazy new level I couldn't have anticipated, but enjoyed SO MUCH! This sequel has magical beings trapped inside some of our characters, an MC bulldozing his own life in hopes he can create a better kingdom, an MC willing to give up the family she just reunited to fight for her country, and a hunt for the lost heir to the throne.

I teared up super early on (chapter 3), cried (book 1 also made me SOB), and audibly gasped several times during my read. One of the biggest compliments I love to see is when people forget they're reading, and ODD gave me that feeling. I was so sucked into Enderlain, I forgot about everything else. It also just amazes me how much the plot progressed from the beginning of book one and that it all somehow fit so perfectly into only two books. Kalyn is so talented 😫

While the high-stakes plot left my head spinning in the best way possible, the characters shone so much more in this sequel and truly came to life. Ari and Mikira will always be my favorites. How they each chose to fight for what's right and all they gave up in pursuit of that squeezes on my heart. They are two of my favorite characters ever. If I had to choose, Mikira's humor makes me love her just a little more (don't tell Ari I said so!). The ending was very satisfying, so don't misunderstand me when I say no part of me wants to leave these characters behind. I just enjoyed my time with them so much, I need more!

The climax was thrilling, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The romance and friendships were endearing. A certain character's redemption ARC was the OMG SCREAMING kind of amazing (which i will never forgive you for, Kalyn 😭). The internal battles the characters fought were just as well written and thought out as the literal life-is-at-stake battles going on. Somehow, there were so many little funny moments that fit perfectly with our cast of characters, which may be a big reason I'm so reluctant to say goodbye to them.

Read if you like:
-Jewish mythology inspired fantasy
-A cast of characters fighting for what is right
-Old magic characters unravel the details of
-Magical beings bonding to people
-Learning to love oneself
-Found family & beautiful friendships
-ACE representation
-Political maneuvering
-High stakes
-Character redemption ARCs
-A hunt for a lost heir & a fight for the throne

Kalyn Josephson's The Shadows Between Us is a thrilling conclusion to the This Dark Descent trilogy. This final installment delivers on the promise of the series, weaving together a complex tapestry of political intrigue, forbidden love, and supernatural elements.

Josephson's world-building is exceptional, drawing inspiration from Jewish mythology to create a unique and captivating setting. The characters, both familiar and new, are deeply flawed and complex, making their choices and struggles all the more compelling.

The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The relationships between the characters are explored with depth and nuance, particularly the complicated dynamics between Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid.

The author's writing is evocative and atmospheric, creating a sense of danger and mystery that permeates the story. The climax is both thrilling and emotionally satisfying, bringing the series to a fitting conclusion.

If you're a fan of dark fantasy with a touch of romance, The Shadows Between Us is a must-read. It's a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will leave a lasting impression.

I received this book as an ARC.

I had not read the first book in the series prior to receiving this ARC. I read through both books and found that this book did not offer much more to intrigue me than the first one. While I think the idea of the book was interesting, I still was not that engaged with any of the characters and could not contain my interest in the individuals or story as a whole.

If I could rate this 3.5, I would. I was honored to be selected as an e-ARC reader for Our Deadly Designs. My favorite things about This Dark Descent (Widget, Reid, Ari, Mikira, and Damien) are all present for this sequel. I think the thing that I struggled with the most in this book is what I loved the most in This Dark Descent - the relationships. I understand the struggles they all needed to go through, but it was the interactions between Reid, Mikira, Ari and Damien that I missed the most. I confess I wasn’t a huge Talyana fan in the first book, so having to deal with her throughout the book wasn’t my favorite (this is not a commentary on the great romance representation - swap out Talyana for another male or female and I would’ve been all for it). I really enjoyed the aspects of forgiveness and what it means to be fearless. Ari was my favorite character (aside from Widget) in both books, so having this be an Ari-heavy book was a dream. She is such a complex and wonderful character. If you enjoyed Book 1, I recommend Book 2!

A really brilliant duology with a fascinating magic system, this was a joy to read. Every twist and betrayal was exactly what the plot needed, and I really enjoyed the book!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy to review.

I read the first book this dark descent last year and absolutely fell in love with the characters, the story, and the world Kalyn created. As much as I loved book one, this sequel was 10x better. The author explored some themes deeper than in the first book, and other new ones, she made me love characters I never thought I could have any positive feelings for. I could have easily read this book in one sitting given the time, the pace held my interest and new twists kept me turning the page, some I caught hints of, others were fun surprises.

The raw emotion tied in with witty banter and comedic timing balanced each other perfectly. A stunning representation of Ace love, a reminder that not all love looks the same and that’s okay, it doesn’t diminish the validity.

The theme of forgiving self, a very very hard lesson for many to learn, and so important was weaved eloquently throughout the various character arcs as well as the reminders that asking for help doesn’t make you weak, trusting others isn’t always foolish, and bravery comes in the face of fear not the avoidance.

4.5/5 stars rounded up
This was a fitting conclusion to this unique duology. The magic system is an interesting one with different folklore included. The various points of view were well done as each character takes you along for the ride from their side of the story. You feel sorry for them, frustrated at their decisions and then cheer them on. I do wish we had been able to see more of Mikira and Reid as their chemistry was phenomenal in the first book.

I was given a copy by the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!) and all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to preface saying that I read this book at a really weird point in my life just mentally so that skews this review quite a bit.
I was SO excited to read this sequel after the first book. I love this world and that it's super unique and the concepts are fairly fresh. I love the characters and their complex nature.
However, this book ended up falling kind of flat for me. A lot of what I really liked of the first book was not in the second. This is more because it is the squeal, however part of the reason I loved the first book was the relationship dynamics between Ari, Mikira, Reid, and Damien. Their relationships weren't as present in the same way, so I didn't enjoy it as much.
I also thought the plot wasn't as interesting. It went a very different direction than what I was expecting, which is a positive and a negative.
With all that being said, I would like to reread this at some point to see if I like it more then but over all a fairly solid read. I am so excited for it to be published.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great sequel. I was so gripped by this book!

Spellbinding fantasy meets Jewish Mythology!

Mikira, Damien, Reid, and Ari have growing problems in Enderlain. The community is searching for the lost heir while Damien seems to be pushing his friends away. Mikira is interested in joining the rebels, Reid keeps scientifically investigating enchanted cells, and Ari struggles to control her building power that’s becoming even more dangerous. The friends seem to be going their separate ways while they try to find their own paths. A darker force is growing in Enderlain. Will the group pull together and fight or be defeated separately?

Likes/dislikes: The dynamics of the relationships are so different from the first book of this series. Even with their struggles, the characters learn to appreciate each other more. The story takes a different turn from what the series originally had but character development is still good.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 17 swears, no f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: The mixed ethnicity includes olive, golden brown, white, and bronze skin tones.

As a huge fan of This Dark Descent, I was so eager to read the sequel - and it didn't disappoint. I was riveted by the twisty intrigue that Josephson put my favorite characters through, and I loved the character development that we get to see after the excitement of the Illinir. Each of the characters is thrown into a new role and given new hurdles to overcome, all while figuring out how to do small things like reform a corrupt society and save all of humanity. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and couldn't put the book down. I honestly wish the series would go on forever because I never want to let these characters go.

Also, shoutout to Widget, one of my top 5 literary cats.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. The cover is gorgeous and perfect for the book. I love this book and it's for sure gonna get a couple re-reads