#Darkly is a wonderful book filled with secrets, lies, and twists. It's also about finding your place in the world and taking your future into your own hands. 5 stars.

This is an intriguing book that will definitely interest the gamer set of teens, as well as those that love mysteries. The characters are well-developed and the story is loaded with twists and turns.

I don’t often find myself re-reading an author’s previous books all at once, but Marisha Pessl wrote such an intriguing book with her newest release, Darkly, that I had the urge to check my local library’s Libby collection and place holds on her previous titles that I’d read several years ago. None of Pessl’s other books are near as good, in my opinion.

So, what made Darkly so good? Lots of little things. I was fascinated by the imagery and mood that Marisha Pessl creates. There are ornate old buildings with secret hatches and hollow walls for creeping, soaking wet boat rides captained by a possible madwoman, and strange encounters within the game that could be someone out to get the group–keeping readers on the edge of their seat from the beginning.

Though we will eventually be introduced to a full cast of quirky characters, we first meet Dia, the protagonist, as she helps out at the floundering antique shop her mother and two elderly business partners own. Chaos might not be a strong enough word for what happens at the shop day in and day out, and Dia knows she may be the only thing keeping the business afloat. Yet with her mother making risky business decisions without asking Dia her opinion, she only has so much control over whether the shop stays open.

Dia has long been an avid fan of Louisiana Veda, the creator of the Darkly games, interactive and mysterious games of risk and chance that may or may not have clues to win hidden throughout. After Louisiana Veda’s death occurred, her games got even more popular and collectible. When an unbelievable opportunity arises for Dia to work for Louisiana’s estate alongside a small group of select individuals doing some sort of administrative work, it seems like it would be wrong for Dia not to apply. But she is not expecting to be selected, let alone to become entangled in a new game that she can only assume Louisiana must have been working on until the day she died.

As Dia continues trying to solve the different levels of the game with her small, loyal group of peers, they slowly uncover information that no one seems to know about Louisiana and her childhood. It soon becomes clear that some very sad situations, overshadowed Louisiana as a young girl the results of which helped shape her career and especially this latest game. It takes a bit of time to sort out what this newest game is all about, but once Dia and her friends are on the right track, clues start falling into place. There are a lot of moving parts in this story, and it is a little bit difficult to keep track of everything that is going on at any given moment. Often, multiple chaotic scenes are occurring simultaneously. Though many important scenes happen in the beginning, it wasn’t until the end of the book that the puzzle started to come into focus for me. So, of course, once I finished reading this story for the first time I went back and re-read Darkly to soak in all of the details.

Sometimes, I think authors put a lot of pressure on themselves when writing specifically for an adult audience. Then, when they decide to dabble in YA, they let loose and the best content comes from the creativity that is tapped into when writing for a completely different age group. Though this isn’t Marisha Pessl’s first foray into YA, I would have to say that Darkly is an indication of her finding and claiming her place in the teen market and I certainly hope to see more books similar in tone in the near future.

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy from Random House Children Books

I loved loved loved this book! When I first read the premise, I knew that this book was going to be shrouded in mystery and games. The story itself did not disappoint. I loved how the story was written and how I never knew what to really expect. It was such a joyride. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

This was a really cool book to read. There’s a lot of unique imagery due to the nature of darkly’s and the shape the game boards and puzzles take on. There were layers and layers of mystery and even though I wasn’t really surprised by how it ended the journey there was so much fun that it didn’t bother me. I’m not going to spoil it by explaining my thought process and why I guessed the ended, but still it was a good end.

I loved the touch of multimedia pieces throughout the novel. It made you feel like a part of the mystery a bit to read newspaper articles and secret letters as the story went on. A lot of the characters felt more like characters then real people, but that makes sense for a story like this where each teen was chosen specifically based off their unique skills, attributes, and personalities.

Throughout the novel Louisiana is this larger then life figure whose layers unravel piece by piece as the teens make their way through a darkly game of their own. Darkly was a fun and intriguing ride.

If you love mysteries, puzzles, and board games this book is for you. This mystery that puts a group of teens in a dangerous game to figure out the truth behind a missing boy will entertain you from beginning to the end.

I really loved getting to read this book Marisha is one of my favorite authors and getting to read her newest book early was an absolute treat. The world of this book was richly imagined and works well within other books of it's ilk like Truly Devious and The Inheritance Games

Nobody knows who started the Louisiana Veda Foundation. They don't know what the foundation is actually doing. They only know that it's named after the enigmatic genius behind the Darkly game company and aims to preserve her legacy. When the foundation announces a worldwide contest to find 7 student interns, eager teens apply in droves. Dia Gannon, the reclusive daughter of a hairbrained antique shop owner in Missouri, doesn't know exactly what about her essay got her one of the coveted spots, but she's not turning down her opportunity to explore the life of her idol.

Dia finds herself whisked away to a mysterious location in England alongside six very different strangers, all of whom get swept up into a dangerous game alongside her. Together, they'll have to unravel Louisiana Veda's final mystery or die trying.

Part Willy Wonka and part cult horror, Darkly is a fantastical story that consistently dives into unexpected territory. Marisha Pessl meticulously plays her cards close to the chest and I can honestly say that for most of the novel, I didn't guess what was going on before the reveals came along. That being said, it does make for a pretty hard novel to describe in a review! There are so many eccentric elements in the story. They are logistically wild and I often found myself thinking that there is no way this story could actually happen in real life, but they were also pretty fascinating. It made for great reading!

Dia is a smart, reliable MC, even though the novel tries a little too hard to make her look like an outsider when she seems, by most accounts, like any other awkward teen. The other characters, particularly the other interns, were great additions that added fresh perspectives and suspicions. I particularly liked Poe, a wealthy French student who immediately takes to Dia, and Everleigh, a girl whose motives are muddy from the start. I also loved The Captain, whose dedication to the long-dead Louisiana was equal parts charming and concerning.

Bit by bit, challenge by challenge, the novel pulls itself together to form something that definitely felt unique. Though it certainly had some jaw-dropping qualities, I'm a little torn about the book's final chapter or two. The final scene is a clever callback, but I'm not unsure it satisfies given everything we know by the end of the novel.

In short, the novel is really kooky and fun and infuriating at times, but I'm not going to say much more than that. It's strengths lie in it's mysteries, so you're welcome for all my vagueposting. Now read it!

*Full review to be posted closer to publication!*

I was so excited for a new book from Marisha Pessl! I loved Special Topics in Calamity Physics back when I read it what feels like ages ago, and I subsequently loved Night Film and its unique storytelling format. In Darkly, we are taken on a brand new journey inside the world of Darkly games, a mysterious brand of games created by the enigmatic Louisiana Veda. Seven teenagers from around the world are chosen to be exclusive interns for Darkly, an opportunity that ends up bringing much more than any of them bargained for. I was so hooked on this twisty and unpredictable story. It was so much fun getting to know each character (though admittedly I did sometimes have difficulties remembering who was who among some of the other interns at times!) and where they fit into this particular Darkly puzzle. This had an incredible dark and mysterious atmosphere that made this book impossible to put down. I loved how I never really knew where the story was going to go, and there was an unbelievable amount of secrets to be unearthed that was incredibly entertaining. The ending was also a true delight and offered a fairly satisfying conclusion to a great story. Highly recommended to any Marisha Pessl fans and anyone who enjoys a good twisty story!

4.5 stars! It's not a wonder to me that it Marisha Pessl only puts out a book every few years. Her novels are chock full of mystery and suspense and puzzles and the language is so rich! There's also always some photos/letters/clues about what's really going on within the story.
Arcadia Gannon (Dia) is wasting away in her family's antique shop. She gets an opportunity to intern for Darkly, a board game company that puts Milton Bradley to shame. The CEO/creator of Darkly, Louisiana Veda, has been dead some thirty years and a contest is put forth to find the Darkly's stolen game, Valkyrie.
Dia and 6 other kids from around the world ae plunged headfirst into the mystery of Darkly, Louisiana and charged with finding the stolen Darkly game. They also must find a boy who started playing Valkyrie and seemingly disappeared. This novel is not to be missed and it will intrigue you long after it's over. If only there really were board games like the ones described in Darkly.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this e-arc.*

Here's "Darkly" by Marisha Pessl.

["Arcadia “Dia” Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the game designer whose obsessive creations and company, Darkly, have gained a cultlike following. Dia is shocked when she’s chosen for a highly-coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world. Why her? Dia has never won anything in her life.

Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda’s mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction.

As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly—a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl.

This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all."]





TO BE UPDATED SHORTLY





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I need more! I really hope there is a sequel to this book because the ending had my jaw on the floor & I was very confused. I already want to re-read it & see if I pick up on anything else on the second read through.

This book had me from the first few chapters! I was immediately invested. I loved the games, the dark past, the mysteries, suspense & the secret society that was the Darkly games. Right off the bat it remind me of The Inheritance Games, just darker😂 I was trying to figure out what was going to happen & I definitely didn’t guess the twist (or twists really because there were a few to me).

The little glimpses into the past in the form of letters, pictures, blueprints & newspaper articles were so fun to see throughout the book! As soon as I finished reading I had to go back & look at all of them again to see if I could piece some of it together.

Would definitely recommend this book!! & I really hope we get another book because I have so many unanswered questions.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Childrens & Marisha Pessl for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Darkly is a really cool story!! It has all the darkness, magic, mystery, and misunderstood teen outcasts I love in this kind of book.

The story is based around a woman named Louisiana Veda who once made super intricate and artistic horror themed board games (Darklies) who died, but decades later her company hosts an essay contest for an internship. There's all kinds of mystery and intrigue surrounding the woman, the games, and especially a game she made that went missing.

Arcadia (Dia), along with six other teenagers all with unusual names, wins the internship but quickly finds out it's not what she expects. The interns end up playing a scary version of one of the games, and starts uncovering all kinds of crazy secrets about Louisiana's life and her games.

I had a great time reading this book, I flew through it! Trying to figure out what was going on was so much fun and I didnt see the end coming at all. There was a good level of darkness mixed with light heartedness and the main characters were all very well written!

Thanks so much to Penguin Teen Canada for the advanced copy!

I've always meant to read Marisha Pessl's work but never got around to her previous books, perhaps because of the length and how complicated her writing is, full of references and interactive elements. In Darkly, Pessl turns to young adult, making her style more accessible while keeping the mysteries and clues. Darkly follows Dia Gannon, who has won a coveted internship with the game company founded by Dia's idol, Louisiana Veda. Dia joins a small group of teenagers and is plunged into a world of games, secrets, and puzzles to unravel. This book is a wild ride, sometimes getting a little off the rails, but very intriguing and captivating, especially thanks to the atmosphere and carefully created puzzles and layers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for this advanced copy. The twists and turns of Dia Gannon’s adventurous internship were something that could’ve only come from the mind of Marisha Pessl in the best way. I felt the same excitement I had reading Night Film for the first time. Pessl has built an entire world in Darkly with symbolism, mixed media and elaborately mysterious characters. I loved this book. My only regret is that I can’t read it for the first time again. It was a true adventure.

The synopsis had me hooked right away, a “thriller” about board games?! Heck yes, sign me up! However, this was not what I thought it was going to be and left me wanting so much more! This did not feel like it was about an actual board game, this felt very fantasy-esque, magically, murder-mystery dinner party & D&D vibes but not in a good way. I really wanted to like this story but after the first like 5 chapters it lost my attention, didn’t give me a reason to care & was a tad bit confusing. The games needed to be explained better, the characters needed to give me a reason to care for them & feel like 17 year olds & the story needed a bit more info to completely understand the story.

Overall, I wanted to give this a 3, but the synopsis almost felt like a lie so I lowered it to a 2. This had such great potential but the execution was lacking.

This was a super interesting read. I did not wanna stop.
Really makes me wish I could see these games in real life. They sound awesome.

This book was hard to put down and when I did, I would end up picking it back up a few minutes later needing to know what will happen next. The story just reels you in and the twists and turns keep you reading. This was a great read. But I do have a couple complaints.

The beginning, first 2-3 chapters, is mostly describing things, was kinda hard to get through personally. This book has a lot of descriptions of everything. Most unnecessary in my opinion, it felt it was to fill up space. But if you don’t mind that, this is a great book to read, the plot just pulls you in.

And Dia gives “main character” but not in a bad way. She just always has a solution, always gets something before anyone else, and always finds something that puts the clues together. It makes me think what’s the point of the other characters in this book that are here on this island if they aren’t providing much help. They’re just there to be there, if not to be suspicious of.

But those are just small things that I was able to get by and was able to enjoy the rest of the book. This has got mystery, a couple of plot twists, and always has you wondering what’s going on. Couldn’t have solved it myself, lol.

Thank you Random House Children’s for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I could not put this book down. Darkly is a YA mystery thriller that brings just the right mix of creepy intrigue without too much horror, which is exactly what I needed to still be able to go to sleep at night. The story follows a group of 17-year-old interns who win a chance to intern with the legendary board game creator Louisiana Veda, famous for her eerie but captivating games. Arcadia “Dia” Gannon, the main character, is quiet, book-smart, and kind of “grandmotherly.”

The interns are flown to a foggy, abandoned island outside London, where Veda’s old game factory is. The suspense builds as they dig into the mystery surrounding a stolen game that resurfaced and apparently led to a teenage boy's disappearance. The descriptions were well done and the world of Louisiana Veda was very imaginative. I never felt like anything in the book was bland. I really hope there's a sequel, because I want more! I would recommend this for those who love a good creepy mystery.

With Darkly, Pessl has opened a gate into a world most curious and magical. Part game, part investigation, part life-affirming inspiration.

Like the Agatha Christie books of my youth, Darkly ushered me in, dusted me off, gave me a cuppa, and thrust me into participation, playing and searching right along with those on the page.

This book brings the screams, the yelps, the gasps, the fevered heartbeats, and the joy and excitement.

Darkly wants you. Answer the call.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Darkly was SUCH a good book. It had a great premise, dynamic characters, and I loved the twists and turns. It was entertaining the whole way through, and instantly hooked me!