Extremely interesting and unique story!

Dia Gannon is applying for an internship at Darkly, once a game making enterprise, now lies dormant after the owner died thirty-nine years ago. Dia is suspicious of the internship announcement because there’s no hidden clue, message or riddle, which is nothing like the owner Louisiana Veda who did everything mysteriously.
Dia receives a letter announcing that she is one of the seven internship winners that have been chosen from across the globe and will be flying to London for the summer to complete the internship with the others. Dia meets Poe, the 17yo French winner, on the flight to London; Poe has a Darkly game inside a briefcase cuffed to his wrist. They meet the five other interns when they arrive at the boat that will take them to the Louisiana Veda factory near Thornwood, England. Dia feels deceptive vibes and she’s worried about what she’s gotten herself into.

Likes/dislikes: I was immediately immersed in the story due to the voice of the main character, Dia. Dia is quirky, smart, and tough. The book was extremely interesting and unique and I couldn’t stop reading once I started.
Mature content: G for kissing.
Language: R for 16 swears and 2 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody death by shooting.
Ethnicity: The ethnicity is mixed with characters from around the world.

I’ve been a huge fan of Marisha Pessl’s writing going all the way back to Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and Neverworld Wake is one of my most favorite books ever. So needless to say that I’ve been greatly anticipating getting my hands on a copy of Darkly. It’s like if The Inheritance Games and Neverworld Wake had a baby. Arcadia “Dia” is obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the legendary game designer who mysterious disappeared years ago. When the company that Louisiana founded, Darkly, announces an exclusive internship, Dia applies, thinking she’ll never hear anything from them, and resigns herself to a quiet life of running her eccentric mother’s antique shop. So no one is more shocked then her when she hears that she is one of the chosen ones. Not knowing what to expect, she flies halfway across the world, thinking she will be working in an office, doing some kind of clerical work. Only, it’s not a London office she ends up at - it’s a secluded remote island that houses the former factory of Darkly, and is tasked with locating a young boy who went missing playing Valkyrie, one of Louisiana’s last and darkest games. With shifting alliances, buried secrets, and immersive gameplay, the interns are dropped time and time again into the game, desperately trying to find clues not just to the boy’s whereabouts but also Louisiana’s mysterious disappearance. With a great talent for world-building and layers upon layers of detail and intrigue, Darkly is one of the most engaging books I’ve read.

3.5 rounded up.

The foundation of the renowned and revered Darkly creator Louisiana Veda has advertised for an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime internship opportunity. The application is simple:

What would you kill for?

Ordinary high schooler Dia Gannon finds herself as one of the lucky 7 interns selected for this incredible opportunity. Or so she thinks. When they arrive for their internship at the Darkly property, the interns are tasked with finding out what happened to a local student that has disappeared while allegedly playing the newest, unreleased Darkly game that was stolen 35 years prior. As the students take on this task, their investigation leads them through twists and turns as challenging and unique as the Darkly games themselves. They quickly begin to uncover more than they even knew possible - but can they survive the game?

Overall I really enjoyed the premise of this book and it was okay. But it could have had stronger execution. You didn’t really get a lot of depth on the side characters which limited the level of investment I had in the story and for what happened to this characters. There were some good twists and turns that kept the story engaging - some of which were pretty predictable but a couple that caught me by surprise. I really loved the premise of the Darkly games and would love to see it played out in a movie format but again with the lack of investment in the characters the game experience didn’t feel as high stakes and I believe it was intended. But honestly my biggest issue with the whole story was literally the last chapter. No spoilers - but I wasn’t even bothered much by the revelation but rather the response and literal ending considering the character growth and development throughout.

All in all it was a quick read kept me engaged, and I enjoyed it enough to definitely check out more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pessl is an author I have really enjoyed in the past, especially Night Film which was a real brain bender of novel. Pessl has shifted to YA in her last couple of books, which isn’t normally my bag, and this has some real YAish stuff in it, with our heroine being stuck between two handsome and mysterious boys. The conceit of this book was pretty cool though, with the protagonist Acardia being plucked out of nowhere to try to help solve a mystery involving a famous reclusive board game designer. I was into the idea of a board game designer who made impossible and complex bespoke games, becoming a legendary cult figure, I found myself relatively uninvested in the characters though, but stayed interest in the book because of the imagination Pessl put into the building of the world.

I absolutely loved this. It was a little bit The Westing Game, but the puzzles were so much darker and scarier. I don't know that I could say no to a Darkly game, so if you never see me again...

I absolutely enjoyed this book. I thought Marisha Pessl did an excellent job with the plotting and writing of the novel. It was an adventurous tension filled book with a game theme that you never really know what to expect. I admit I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this book to other readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Random House Children's/ Delacorte Press, and Marisha Pessl

To date, Marisha Pessl's stories are dark, odd, and fascinating. Her latest, DARKLY, is all of that taken up ten notches. With its mystery within a mystery and use of "found" original documents, Ms. Pessl takes you on a journey that is at times dangerous and insane if you stop to think about what is happening. Yet, DARKLY is every bit as addicting as Louisana Veda's games.

DARKLY is the epitome of a story that makes you question everything you think you know. Its ending is open and leaves several questions unanswered. Despite that frustration, you soon realize it is the perfect ending to the novel. As the story itself plays with the idea of reality, and the character around whom the entire story revolves is as much an enigma as anything you will find, the open ending and unanswered questions are a continuation of that theme.

DARKLY takes the idea that we can never really know someone and uses it to the extreme. To that mix, Ms. Pessl tosses in a seemingly deserted island with one way off or on, adds a dash of a derelict factory, stirs in the gloomiest of weather, and layers on a mysterious internship. She tops it all with a seriously disturbing game within a game. The result is the perfect gothic mystery.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc! I’m excited to look into more work from this author in the future.

A darkly suspenseful sleight of hand. It whisks you away into a mysterious game, not knowing what’s real and what’s not, on a moody island that cuts a tense scene. And ends on twist the crashes open the neat ending.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Marisha Pessl is back with another YA thriller. Darkly follows Arcadia “Dia” Gannon, a teenager unexpectedly chosen for a coveted internship from the company of her idol game designer, Louisiana Veda. After Veda’s death, the company basically went dormant, with its games popping up at auction for millions of dollars. As Dia and her fellow interns dig into the game, they find hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other people? Why were any of them really chosen for this internship, and what’s next for them when it ends?

I have been hooked on Pessl’s writing since Night Film, and though I haven’t loved any as much as that one, I still enjoy subsequent books by her, including this one. It’s dark and twisty. I love books where there’s another world alongside our world, and stories where characters are playing some large game ticks that box for me. I had no expectations and formed no theories, just followed Dia on her journey and discovered things as she did. It was a wild ride, for sure!

Unfortunately, Darkly joins the ranks of Books I Wish I Loved. I'd never read a Marisha Pessl novel, but this one really jumped out at me. Darkly presents a very interesting and unique premise that stands out compared to a lot of the young adult books on the market right now, and I was so excited for a fresh story. I was drawn to the premise of this novel because it sounded straight out of a movie, and a bit like The Inheritance Games, if it were its eccentric, quirky sibling. In a way, Darkly is exactly that, but it didn't give off the same charm as The Inheritance Games, even though I thought it could have.

Dia is a game designer, and I really loved how gaming was woven in throughout the story. It was very clever, and I don't think we see enough of this in young adult books. I also loved the multimedia elements and they were so fun to read about. Ever since reading the A Good Girls Guide to Murder series, I've found myself wishing for more books with exciting little visuals, so this was very exciting.

There were moments I found excellent throughout Darkly, but I found it overall to be underwhelming. The premise, the concepts, and the vibes were there, but the actual execution was poor.

Pessl's book Night Film literally blew me away, so I was excited to read Darkly, her YA offering. Like Night Film, the premise of this -- and much of the plotting -- is wildly imaginative, playful, dark and creative, which I really enjoyed. Unlike Night Film, the characters in this latest book seemed to fall flat for me, and I would have appreciated each of them having more specificity and depth. If you are a fan of stories that lean heavily into plotting (and less heavily into character), you will likely love this read.

Dia, a teen from Missouri, finds herself one of seven interns working for her favorite board game designer's company. The games are elaborate and intense, leaving a mysterious legacy of the designer, Louisiana Vega. When the seven teens get to England, they learn they are supposed to find out who stole the previously unknown lost game of the designer - and the way they are supposed to do that is to play the game themselves.

This was an interesting read. I think it started a little slowly, but once Dia got to England, it definitely picked up. I enjoyed the intrigue between interns and how those secrets unfolded (especially at the end with a slight twist). There were some elements that I don't think were as successful though. I am still not clear exactly what was happening in Valkyrie (although to be fair, I'm not sure Dia completely did either at the end). I think the lore behind it could have been given more time - like I got the basic gist, but there were elements I guess maybe I missed or weren't explained (like what all the settings were/meant). I also do think it ended on a kind of meh note. Like I get the symbolism behind the ending (like last two pages ending), but it still felt out of character or wrong somehow? I'm not sure. I just know I closed it being like huh. Overall, a decent read, but it didn't give me the same magic I got from Night Film.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pessl poured so much love and effort into the legend of Louisiana Veda and Darkly that she had little left for our present-day characters. Dia and the other interns fall flat by comparison, which makes the parts of the story not immediately immersed in Veda’s history jarring to read. Overall I liked it and would read again. A Darkly is addictive, after all.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙

In Darkly, Marisha Pessl introduces the Reader to the interestingly-mad world of an eccentric and infamous game designer, Louisiana Veda. If you've read Pessl's novel Night Film, you're already aware of how well she can create an aura around a mysterious character. I'm looking at you, Cordova.

Our MC is a teenage girl, Dia Gannon, who submits an application for a coveted-internship with Veda's gaming company, Darkly. Her application feels like a failure, so Dia is shocked when she discovers she's been selected for one of the highly-competitive 7-positions.

Darkly, well-known for it's darkly ((pun intended)) ingenious game designs, has laid dormant since its founder's, Louisiana's, bizarre death. The Darkly games that remain are so prized, they can go for millions at auction. As the teens start their internships, more questions are revealed than answered. What even are these internships about, and why were these specific candidates selected?

The entire narrative turns into a puzzle, with Dia struggling to piece everything together. The stakes feel high, the atmosphere ripe with danger, but why? It's all part of the mystery of Darkly.

I enjoyed my time with Darkly. It's a story I would consider reading again. I feel if my brain hadn't been so fried by the holidays, I could've even enjoyed it even more. There's no denying Pessl's insane-levels of creativity and I did enjoy the overall mysterious tone of this book. While I feel like my brain may have missed some of the finer details, I can still appreciate the level of attention that must of been required in Pessl's execution of this story. It's not my favorite of her work, but a solid read nonetheless.

If you enjoy puzzle-driven stories, I feel you could love this. The characters are smart, driven and interesting. I loved the action, setting and the intrigue of Louisiana Veda definitely kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to seeing what other Readers think of Darkly and anticipate whatever Pessl writes next!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. For readers of Inheritance Games, Darkly follows Dia and her felllow interns as they tryr to solve the games of the empire of Veda. But why was Dia chosen, she isn't famous, or rich, or related to anyone famous or rich? There are clues and symbols enough to keep the intrigue going in this twisty novel.

You know how sometimes you have an author whose first work you encountered was so life-altering that you're down for whatever they write after, no matter the quality of the subsequent output? Marisha Pessl is one of those authors for me.

I fell in love hard with Special Topics In Calamity Physics, which was a brilliant look at a young girl leading a peripatetic life in the wake of her mercurial professor father, trying to fit in at a new high school during senior year and stumbling into a murder investigation in the process. Ms Pessl's next two books, Night Film and Neverworld Wake, were both fine. Night Film was very self-consciously adult (and commensurately ponderous) and Neverworld Wake felt like a capitulation to the marketing schisms that demanded that any novel with a teenage protagonist had to be classified as Young Adult. Darkly, at least, feels more comfortable as a YA novel, tho perhaps I have just adjusted my expectations downwards in regard to this author.

Gosh, this review isn't meant to be bitchy, I just want eccentric, brilliant books closer to STiCP than to your average YA mystery, and I'm starting to get a little impatient!

Anyway, Darkly tells the tale of Dia Gannon, a teenage outcast who essentially runs the antique store ostensibly staffed by her flighty mother and the elderly assistants who might as well be related to her by blood. When she learns that the estate of legendary game-maker Louisiana Veda is holding a worldwide search for interns, she's desperate to go but also scared of leaving her little family behind.

Like millions of others worldwide, Dia has played several of the immersive and haunting board/mystery games Louisiana published via her company, Darkly Games. Beautiful, secretive Louisiana reportedly perished herself years ago. Now, seven teenagers are being invited to visit Darkly Games for the first time. Dia doesn't expect to be selected, but nothing will stop her from going once she is.

The internship is nothing like she expects, tho. As she and her fellow interns unravel the mystery of why they've been brought there, they find themselves playing in a terrifying and all-too-realistic game. Could this be Louisiana's final masterpiece? Dia might be able to find out, so long as she survives the ordeal.

I loved the foundational conceit of this novel, even if I as a game-maker and puzzle-enthusiast have to reluctantly admit that Louisiana's rags-to-riches story is very much a conceit. I WISH that it were possible for creators of intricate physical (and even immersive real-life) games to rake in the big bucks like Louisiana did, but I'm happy enough to go along with the idea that she earned enough to buy an estate and a mysterious factory and to be able to hand out largesse essentially at whim.

What I did really love were the game descriptions! I'm still not 100% sure why the person who set Valkyrie in motion did so since it was clearly counterproductive to their aims, but I really enjoyed reading about the game play and puzzling my way through it with Dia. Motive aside, the setup for Valkyrie made sense, as did the many secrets of Louisiana's life. Dia and her family were also winsome, and while some of her fellow teens felt barely fleshed out, it was nice to have a diverse cast rocketing around the world, solving mysteries.

This book really made me want to go play some of the bazillion escape/puzzle games I already own. After all, I can't buy more if I haven't played the ones I already have! (or so I tell myself, lol) And I'd love to help make some of these wonderfully creative -- tho hopefully less tortured than Louisiana -- game designers I admire that much richer, if only so I can have more of their delightful creations to play. It's a virtuous cycle, rather like the one depicted in these pages.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl was published November 26 2024 by Delacorte Press and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9780593706558">Bookshop!</a>

I made it about 40% of the way through this, and I was just not feeling it at all. What I did read wasn’t bad, but it also didn’t make me want to keep reading. Ultimately I decided to DNF this one, but given the amount that I did read, I would still give it 2 stars. I’m sure it’s people are out there, I just wasn’t one of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Dia has always been interested in the Darkly games and the game designer behind them, Louisiana Veda. When the opportunity arises to intern for the Darkly company, Dia is shocked to find that her application is one of the seven to be chosen. However, the internship is not what it appears to be. The seven has been chosen to find one of Louisiana's stolen games, never made known to the public and is currently related to a missing teenage boy. Dia and the other interns will need to find their way into the game and find out who is responsible.

This book was a lot of fun and surrounded in mystery. Not only are you trying to find out who is responsible for stealing the Darkly game and how it relates to the missing boy, but you are also thrown into the mystery of who Louisiana was and the secrets that surround the Darkly company. I was captivated with Dia and her investigation. It seemed like every chapter there was a new twist making you question who could be trusted. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I would love to read more work by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review Darkly. All thoughts and opinions are my own.