I think I'm settling somewhere around a 3-3.5/5. This book was fun and easy to read, but it really had a lot more potential.

Starting with the pros: the setting, the idea of Darklys, and Valkyrie itself. I thought the locations the gang visited were interesting and well-defined, lending to the overall vibe of the story. I enjoy board games and video games, so the thought of playing a Darkly seems intriguing - but an immersive one like Valkyrie would be quite cool.

And the cons: there was far too many instances of cut to black, then being told what happened in retrospect. It was overused and wasted almost all the tension that the story tried building. It got to the point that I was never worried about the MC if she found herself in a precarious position at the end of a chapter, since it inevitably would cut to half an hour later where everyone's totally safe and discussing the crazy thing that just happened. The characters also all blended amongst each other by the end: we were given caricature of each person, which then was either obnoxiously over-blown or totally forgotten about within a few pages. Dia's introduction was the worst of them all, we hear about how much she likes to dress like an old person, act like she's from another generation, and is called "Nana" at school, but once she's on the plane it never really comes up again (save for the occasional reference to an old movie or how outdated guns work). Finally, the classic problem of centering the plot around the concept of a super hard to beat game... at times the tricks to Valkyrie seemed glaringly obvious, but at others it would have been quite literally impossible to solve without knowing Louisiana's personal history. That doesn't seem too in line with the Darkly spirit, imo.

This is Pessls’ first YA book but you can see the intricacies of her will known writing within these pages. Lovely and bright and intriguing is how I’d describe this!

This is a very interesting book! I enjoyed the story telling and how the book flowed! I loved the characters a lot!

Arcadia “Dia” Gannon is our protagonist and much like a Willie Wonka story, she has won the lucky lottery ticket. She and a handful of other mismatched geniuses of sorts have been shuttled to an island for an "internship."

The internship is with the most famous game design company in the world. There is a huge following due to the lore surrounding now passed creator Louisiana Veda. When Dia arrives, she learns that the internship is closer to a game - a real life game where staying alive is main theme.

Pessl can build a world out of anything and I am here for it! I loved the world, was confused about the game, but enjoyed every minute of it. If you love a game-themed story, a when-there-were-none style setting or just want to follow a group of highly unusual protagonists, this book is for you!
#randomhouse #delacortepress #darkly #marishapessl

Thank you to Marisha Pessl, NetGalley, and Random House Childrens for the opportunity to review the ARC that I received for this captivating tale. I very much liked the characters and the twists and turns of this story. I thought that Valkyrie was an intriguing thing all its own, and I could have read more. You never really saw what was going to happen, and those that I thought were behind everything, it changed every chapter. I appreciated this immensely and will be getting a copy when it comes out. Everyone should read this, you will not be disappointed!

With how much I loved Neverworld Wake, I was expecting this book to be amazing. Neverworld Wake is my favorite young adult book of all time. And when I heard that this was about board games, another favorite thing of mine, I was very excited. However, this book disappointed me in many ways. Let's use the CAWPILE rating system to talk about the book.
Characters - didn't seem very much like young adults in the way that they talked. I liked the main character but really didn't care about anyone else, and the romance seemed very forced.
Atmosphere - One of the only parts I liked. I enjoyed the setting very much.
Writing - The writing quality was fine. But like I mentioned with the characters, the teen dialogue did not feel realistic.
Plot - this was the weakest part for me. The actual board game they play isn't really a board game. I never really understood the rules of the game. To be about board games, you would expect more board games in the book. The ending was very predictable. Not to mention that the main character's decision on the last page made no sense.
Intrigue - I was not really intrigued enough to keep going. I only finished the book because I had received the ARC, and I needed to write this review. This is a book I would have normally DNFed.
Logic - The logic in this book really didn't make much sense. I never quite understood why the characters were doing the things they were doing. Everything felt very forced, and it was like I could feel the author plotting the book.
Entertainment - overall, I did not find this book to be very entertaining and gave it two stars.

I'm a big Pessl fan and this book did not disappoint (even though it was YA, which isn't quite my speed). Really kept me reading to figure out the mystery.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc!

<b>Releasing Nov 26, 2024</B>

This book was so good! Such a great and unique storyline. The perfect spooky setting. It had great twists and turns. I am a fan of mysteries/thrillers so this was right up my alley. The ending left me like :O

Definitely worth a read!

Oh boy! This book gives me serious Burtonesque vibes, with its alluring puzzles and mind-blowing, visionary world-building. The plot feels like games within games—complex, chaotic, and utterly captivating. As a reader, you want to dive into the challenges yourself and solve the intricate puzzles, but the pace is so fast, you have to be quick, agile, and a marathon reader just to keep up with Arcadia (or "Paradise" as Poe calls her) and the other six teenagers. And honestly, you might fail. Instead of pushing your brain to its limits, I suggest just sitting back and devouring the book, letting yourself get swept away by the experience without burning out!

I’m giving it four stars, though I’m conflicted. Marisha Pessl’s incredible world-building and game design deserve a perfect 10, but the character development held me back. The six other characters (and if you count Choke Newington, seven—an interesting name for someone caught in a bizarre love triangle, though there’s little romance here) felt defined more by their abilities than their emotional depth. I could barely differentiate between them. Poe, for example, left me with nothing but negative feelings, thanks to his arrogance and superiority. I didn’t connect with the characters or feel the camaraderie I expected from this ‘partners in crime’ type of story. That cost the book a star.

In Darkly, Arcadia "Dia" Gannon, a devoted fan of game designer Louisiana Veda, is shocked when she’s chosen for an exclusive internship at Darkly, the game-making empire once led by Veda before her mysterious death. Alongside six other teens from around the globe, Dia enters the dormant company where Veda’s intricate, terrifying creations have become rare, coveted artifacts. As the group uncovers hidden symbols, buried secrets, and intriguing puzzles within the labyrinth of Darkly, they begin to wonder why they were chosen—and what the true nature of this summer internship really is. In a chilling, immersive read by Marisha Pessl, these teens find themselves drawn into a dangerous game that may be the most twisted one yet.

The entire execution was gripping, and I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel to explore more unanswered questions in this universe.

The fast-paced trajectory, the missing boy mystery, the unrevealed past of Louisiana Veda and her traumatic childhood, the secrets behind Derringer Street, and the files with cryptic names—everything built up tension and kept me on the edge of my seat. The shocking conclusion and nonstop action made me want to dive back into this Darkly universe immediately. If I were younger, I’d definitely want to play Valkyrie!

Overall, I fell in love with this book and its dark, mesmerizing, multi-layered world. I need another book from Pessl ASAP!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for sharing this remarkable YA mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl follows Dia, a young woman who is obsessed with games referred to as Darkleys. The creator of these games died suddenly years ago but her legacy lives on through the cult following her games have gotten. Now, there is an application to come and be an intern with the game creator’s foundation. The only question, “What Would You Kill For?” What comes next is a dark and atmospheric mystery that will have you staying up late to solve.

I really loved this book. I was so intrigued by the premise and the first 25 percent of the book. I actually had dreams about the games in this book because they were so well described, yet still mysterious. This is a Young Adult book but I feel like any reader looking for an interesting mystery would like this book. The characters are all unique to follow with their own motivations.

I wish this book would have been a little longer. I wanted to live in this world for about 100 more pages. The last bit of this ended up feeling a little rushed which is a common thing in Young Adult books. I just wanted a little more.

I still really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend. The atmosphere is so good. I haven’t been this wrapped up in a book in a long time and I’ll continue to think about this book for awhile.

Let me first say that Marisha Pessl is one of MY FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER. No one will ever surpass her for me. I reread her books yearly. I loved her "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" so much that I almost carry it with me everywhere, like a comfort blanket as a child does. I always recommend everyone read all of her books. But this newest one is absolutely superb. When "Darkly" is published, RUN to the bookstore and stock up, because it truly is the best. What a fantastic, intelligent, exquisitely written thriller!
I truly say that I will read anything she writes, even the side of a cereal box. I am off to read it again, but it was so, so, so good.

When Dia is chosen for a prestigious internship, she is thrilled to learn more about the infamous Louisiana Veda and her company. She loves the games of Darkly and can't wait to get her foot in the door of what could be her ticket to a better life. But when she, along with the six other teens who have also won internships, arrives in London, things take a different path. The Veda Seven are quickly shuttled to a remote island and tasked with solving a decades-long mystery that is the key to finding a missing boy.

With twists, turns, puzzles, and plenty of surprises, Dia has to decide who to trust and find her way through the most treacherous Darkly game of all. Can she follow the hidden clues to solve not only the mystery of the game but keep herself and the others alive? The further things go, the more dangerous it becomes, and once she's gone so far, it may just be too late to turn back.

This is a perfect read for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Inheritance Games and Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series. Readers will love the mystery and layers upon layers of intrigue as the characters work their way through the clues. Some of the characters are a little harder to follow than others, but for the most part each character has their own motives and abilities. The setting is also well written and adds to the danger and drama the characters face as the story progresses.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always intrigued by the creativity and imagination of a Marisha Pessl book and Darkly is no different. Darkly has some of the same noir and paranoia vibes as Night Film did, but since it's a young adult book it was dialed back with a much softer ending.

I loved the whole story being built around the legacy of a woman who built board games and the way they were valued as highly as art. With lots of mysteries happening at once, the pages flipped quickly to figure out what was going on. I enjoyed how the reader was pulled into the game itself that the characters were playing. My only grump is that the ending went on a little too long and a random twist was tossed in at the last moment that seemed slightly predictable and almost too neat.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and one I would highly recommend!

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Darkly by Marisha Pessl from Random House Children's Delacorte Press via NetGalley.

Don't be fooled by the young adult categorization of Darkly by Marisha Pessl. This book can certainly be enjoyed by adults because I loved it! Maybe I am biased because I have read every one of Marisha's books and enjoyed them all. I was so excited to get this one because it promised to be what I love about her work: dark, spooky, and intellectually stimulating. I love a good puzzle and a good board game. Combine the two and I am in heaven. Escape rooms, murder mystery parties, all of that stuff, yes please. When a group of teenagers are selected to solve a mystery related to a lost board game by their favorite game-maker, they find themselves in a real life version of the game. It is fantastic! It will have you guessing about whodunnit and who can be trusted. You might be surprised. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants a spooky puzzle to solve without a bunch of gore.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics was cerebral, Night Film is still one of only a handful of books that truly scared me, and Neverworld Wake was a wild time loop ride that I was unable to put down. Darkly is a masterclass in gothic atmospheric writing. The storyline is intelligent, captivating, and a perfect homage to both tabletop and roleplaying gaming. The characters hold enough mystery that everyone is a suspect and Arcardia, the main character is smart and quick witted, which is refreshing as I didn't have to question everything she did as being idiotic. The mystery surrounding Louisiana Veda and her gaming company is the gameboard and the reader is the pawn tasked with collecting bits of knowledge to piece together what happened and be ultimately rewarded. I absolutely loved this latest novel and have already been recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys dark, cerebral works of art. I cannot wait to see what Pessl comes out with next and I will be the first in line to read whatever it is.

For fans of Marisha Pessl, gothic mysteries, and tabletop board games and mysteries where the player is the detective tasked with solving a crime.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marisha Pessl, and Delacorte Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dia wins a contest to become an intern for a foundation of late board game designer Louisiana Veda. 7 interns from around the world are assigned the task of figuring out the mystery behind one of the Darkly games.

Just like Night Film, this book captivated me from the start. The Darkly game franchise is so unique and imaginative. There are a lot of characters and plot twists to keep track of but otherwise it's a fun read!

“What would you kill for?”
That line right there made me want to read this book. I was intrigued in the beginning and then found myself rather bored. I forced myself to read 50% of it and then had to just do a quick skim to come to the end. The writing style just didn’t flow well for me, but that is only my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of Darkly by Marisha Pessl.

I became a fan of Marisha Pessl after reading her "Special Topics in Calamity Physics," so you can imagine my excitement when I discovered her new book. "Darkly" is a dark YA thriller that dives into the mysterious world of a reclusive game designer, old-school board games, and obsessive players caught up in the enigmatic Darkly games.

The story centers on Arcadia "Dia" Gannon, an outsider and loner who helps her mother run their antique shop. Her only friends are two elderly employees at the shop. With her anachronistic mannerisms, she’s the odd one out at school, often the target of ridicule. When the Louisiana Veda Foundation, based in England, announces an international contest for a summer internship, Dia, a self-professed game addict, applies with little hope of success.

To her great surprise, Dia is chosen, along with six other teenagers: Poe from France, Franz from Germany, Cooper from the USA, Torin from Ireland, Everleigh from Iceland, and Mouse from Nigeria. Upon arriving in England, the interns are thrust into a real-life board game filled with tricks, hidden symbols, secrets, and danger. What follows is a grand adventure that puts their lives at risk.

This is a complex story packed with adventure, mystery, suspense, and plenty of twists. I devoured it and found myself wanting to live in its world forever. The plot races from the beginning, constantly picking up pace and growing darker as it immerses the reader into its richly imagined world. There are countless adventures and mishaps, all underscored by a fascinating array of games.

The book is interspersed with illustrations, letters, diagrams, news articles, maps, and photos, all of which enhance the narrative. It’s beautifully written, capturing the reader's imagination from the first chapter. Pessl’s unique style - her poetic language, creativity, wit, and humor -creates a distinctive reading experience. Yes, the prose may be a bit purple at times, but that’s part of its charm and doesn’t interfere with the story's flow.

Tension and drama are key to keeping readers hooked, and this book delivers in spades. While Dia is the most fully fleshed-out character, each of the interns has their own backstory and secret. Amidst the suspense and adventure, there’s also a gentle touch of youthful romance. The plot moved swiftly, keeping me fully engaged and anxious to know what would happen next. However, the ending felt a bit abrupt, leaving me with some questions, though most loose ends were tied up.

Pessl rises above clichés to craft an original story, with twists and turns that keep the reader alert and engaged. Sometimes the technique is not enough if the content is not revolutionary, but this is not the case here. In this case, the "how" is what makes the book, and the "what" is reasonable. I wasn't entirely pleased with the open ending, even though most loose ends were tied up; I would have preferred a more conclusive resolution.

In sum, "Darkly" is a mesmerizing book that I absolutely loved. Dysfunctional families, brilliant game scenes, puzzles, and intrigue are just some of the ingredients that take this book to the next level. The characters, setting, and dialogue feel real, even if the teenagers are far from average. The dark atmosphere is convincingly sketched, making for a gripping read. Marisha Pessl has crafted an extraordinary tale that I highly recommend.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I’m not a huge fan of YA but this premise sounded very intriguing so I was excited to be gifted the arc.

From the first page I felt invested in this story! There was a sense of unease throughout the entire book and I never guessed the ending! It definitely kept me turning pages and I never lost interest in the story.

The games were fascinating and I’m impressed the author could come up with something so complex.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Book:
DARKLY by Marisha Pessl
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc (Nov)

Review:
4⭐
DARKLY is a thrilling tale that follows Dia, who applies for an internship working with Darkly. While interning, Dia is taken on a whirlwind adventure, uncovering secrets and lies.
I had a lot of expectations for this book since I've previously read Pessl's work and loved it. Though DARKLY didn't meet all of my expectations, it was still devorable, though not as easily as I would have liked, with a mystery that kept me guessing and reguessing. And then those last few chapters. Mind-blown+confusing all at the same time. As the mystery unraveled, I couldn't begin to understand how Dia figured it out. I was also left confused by the last few chapters, that revelation seemingly cut short---almost like an incomplete thought.
This may not have hit all of the marks, but it was still a great read.