This tease is killing me!! I need this book yesterday!

This series is truly a ride to enjoy and I can’t wait for the release.

Thank you for the advanced excerpt! Dark Shores is my favorite series by Danielle and I am highly anticipating the release of the final book! However, it’s been two years since I’ve read the series, and I honestly don’t remember much of what happened, or how Gilded Serpent left off 😭 I don’t really feel like I can provide a fair review because I was lost most of the time while reading. I will note that over the previous books in the last series I have found the characters so loveable and the political tension and action scenes well written. The magic system in this world is one of my favorites of all time, it’s subtle but the xenthiers are so cool. I have Scorched Earth preordered and can’t wait to binge the whole series before it’s release!!

Thank you Tor Teen and NetGalley for giving me access to the first 24 chapters of Scorched Earth. I seriously love this series so much. I don’t know why this isn’t more popular. It’s so good. I cannot wait until the books release date this was a great teaser but I have so many questions!! Gotta say Danielle Jensen is truly evil with some of the timings of her story line/pov switches!

finished the 24 chapter excerpt & i already know this book will be 5 stars!!!!!!! ughhhhhh i hate that i have to wait so long to see what happens 😩 so many plot twists! so much stress! i love our main characters so much it's not even funny!

HIGHLY recommend this series!!!!!!

thank you so much Tor Teen & Netgalley for the arc! this is my honest review.

Receiving an excerpt from an arc is a mixed blessing. The main thing I can evaluate it for is whether it piqued my interest, whether it compels me to preorder the book. This excerpt dropped me head first into this world and events as they unfolded, and I was intrigued immediately. It captured my interest and it made me want to keep reading and see what happened to the characters. I didn't feel completely lost, despite starting partway through the book. The writing is engaging and fluid, and my only complaint is that I have to wait for the entire book to get the whole story.

I got the first few chapter of this book and i NEED the rest! Danielle jensen is a top tier writer! raging at the bit to have the rest! i can’t wait to see where it goes!

This book, is so so good. I really cannot wait until I get my hands on the full thing!!!! I need the whole book. I need to see how it gets wrapped up. Oh Marcus. Just oh Marcus. Let’s get it together.

Its a must have read!!! You. Must. Read. This.

This was a great preview and I can’t wait to devour the whole book! Danielle Jensen is a fabulous writer and there is a lot here to be excited about.

Absolutely amazing and exactly what I expect and love from Jensen. I cannot wait to read the rest of this one!

I am weak, broken, and ugly, but I am not yet defeated.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for allowing me to read a 24 chapter excerpt in exchange for an honest review.

Coming off re-reads, this book wastes no time and picks up immediately where Gilded Serpent left off! We finish Gilded Serpent with a sense of dread and desperation, and this little preview into Scorched Earth only offered a tiny bit of respite from the onslaught of action. (Though this isn't a surprise since 24 chapters only amounted to 150 pages of what will be a 750+ page book).

I am eager to find out how on earth Marcus, Teriana, Lydia, and Killian will overcome all the challenges that have been building up against them. There are an insane amount of lies & secrets that need to be revealed, reunions that need to be had (Agrippa, the 37th, and Silvara??), and I'm SO NERVOUS on their behalf. August can't come soon enough!

It's been so long since I read The Gilded Serpent so I had to get my bearings when reading this excerpt. I think it did a great to get me excited for the full book.

This really throws you in the deep end and leaves you scrambling to understand what's going on. I do appreciate that striking the balance of world building exposition not being too info-dumpy, but I felt it was a bit disorienting at the beginning. That being said, I think it was exciting and compelling and would like to finish the book.

I have read the previous books of this series starting with Dark Shores and then the subsequent books, Dark Skies, and Gilbert Serpent. The preview of 165 pages of the final book in the series, Scorched Earth, immediately starts where Gilded Serpent ends.
Marcus has returned to the Southern Continent after escaping Cassius and Hostis, but in using the stems numerous times, he has suffered a severe concussion. Likewise, Lydia and Killian barely escape Rufina and Lydia has succumbed to the power of darkness and must be kept in restraints to prevent her from harming Killian.
What I have enjoyed most with these books is the world building. The empire is clearly patterned after Rome. The cruelty and subjugation of neighboring worlds and cultures are well depicted. Jensen’s main characters are all flawed and even with good intentions make decisions that have devastating consequences.
I look forward to when Scorched Earth is released in August. Jensen has several story lines going and it will be interesting to see how they finally connect. I know this is fantasy, but I would really like to see if any of the major characters sacrifice everything to heal the worlds in which they live. Marcus is probably my favorite character. He is a deeply troubled man who has committed horrible acts for the Empire. Not every character deserves a happy ending.

I joined NetGalley (which I should have done long ago given how much I love to read) for a shot at this excerpt and just about squealed out loud yesterday when I got the email saying I'd been approved. Then I proceeded to read it all in one evening as one does. And I was NOT disappointed.

SCORCHED EARTH is easily one of my most anticipated books ever, my love for the series and impatience for this finale made all the more intense due to the years-long publication delays and the number of times I've re-read/listened to all or parts of the first three books in the interim.

GILDED SERPENT left all four of our main characters knee-deep in disaster and this installment picks up right where book three left off. It took a little while to reacclimate to the world and the various plotlines but once that happened, it was all systems go. I cannot stress enough how well thought-out this world is and how seamlessly the individual story threads fit together. (Although I admit to being partial to Marcus and Teriana's chapters as they're hands down my favorite characters/couple).

Twenty-four chapters might seem like a lot but by all reports this book is a monster, so I know it's just a taste of the action still to come. Ultimately, this excerpt did what I needed: it took the edge off my desperation to know just a little more about how these characters are doing while still leaving me wanting the rest of the story. August 5th can't come soon enough. It's two days before my birthday and I'll be doing everything I can to clear my calendar to spend the day reading.

If you haven't picked up this series yet, do it. In my humble opinion, it's Ms. Jensen's best work.

Eeeek what a tease. I love Danielle Jensen and I understand her desire not to give out ARCs of her novels. I do have to say thought that its a bummer that this isn't the whole book! I can't wait to finish it now.

This is absolutely incredible. I’m so excited it will come out in August because I cannot wait any longer. This series is everything.

I loved how the stories started IN it. DLJ doesn’t shy away from putting her characters through the wringer and this book is no exception. But it’s SO good. They NEED these trials to work through. I love every single POV person we get! I’m still hoping Agrippa makes his way into the final version… (side eye emoji).

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

A special thanks to the NetGalley team at Tor/Forge for this twenty-four chapter excerpt of Scorched Earth. All opinions are my own.
Scorched Earth is the long awaited finale to the Dark Shores Series. I was super happy that I got the opportunity to get a taste of what’s to come in August.
Scorched is a fast-paced book that is going to give you all the feels. I’m really scared for Teriana, Marcus, Killian, Lydia, and my favorite character Agrippa. Also, protect Austornic “Nic” at all costs!
Teriana has made a deal with Cassius that will cost her. She has six months to provide different xenthier paths for the empire otherwise her people will be murdered. To make matters worse, Marcus has shut her out. I loved that despite everything that has happened, Teriana does not abandon Marcus and goes after him.
Marcus takes a huge risk and returns to the 37th and faces execution by his soldiers. He is also dealing with his guilt of “killing” Lydia and pushes Teriana away because he knows she will hate him for it. There is still a question of who the traitor is and my guess is that its Gibzen. I look forward to Cassius and Hostus getting their comeuppance.
I cannot wait for Teriana to finally reunite with Lydia! Up until this point, Teriana believes Lydia is dead and she doesn’t know that Marcus tried to kill her. It is going to be an emotional reunion for sure. I’m also looking forward for a Marcus and Agrippa reunion.
Killian is finally free of his oath to Malahi, however, his relationship with Lydia is at a standstill because she is corrupted. Lydia is dealing with the choices she made and fighting the corruption that threatens to destroy everyone she loves.
My favorite part was reading the Agrippa and Malahi scenes. I wasn’t a fan of Malahi in Dark Skies but she grew on me in Gilded Serpent.
Agrippa has rescued Malahi and is determined to fight for something right this time. I was happy that it seems like Agrippa and Malahi will become a couple. After what happened with Silvara, I want Agrippa to have his happily ever after. Agrippa admired Malahi for her resilience and defiance after being brutally tortured by Rufina. He also feels a lot of guilt for the choices he has made. They will play a big role in assuring that Rufina and her army are defeated.
Overall, I love this series and highly recommend it for anyone who loves fantasy, multiple POVs, romance, action, and adventure. I can’t wait to read the whole book in August! I have already pre-ordered my copy. While I wait for its release, I will be rereading all the Dark Shores books in preparation for the finale.

It’s been a while since I read Gilded Serpent, and I was nervous going into this book because I felt like I had forgotten too many plot points, character dynamics, and interwoven relationships. However, within just a few chapters, Danielle L. Jensen does an excellent job of triggering the reader’s memory. If you’re someone like me who doesn’t reread before diving into the newest book, rest assured—Danielle guides you right back into the chaos with ease. Before I knew it, I was fully immersed and remembering the intensity of Gilded Serpent’s ending.

The anticipation of certain character reunions had me feeling both excited and anxious. (There’s probably a perfect word for this feeling, but my brain is too overwhelmed by emotions to think of it!) Scorched Earth picks up right where we left off with Killian and Lydia, as well as Marcus and Teriana. And even though this is the final book in the series, Danielle does not hold back—the suffering, the impossible choices, the emotional devastation—it all reminds me why I love this series so much. The characters we know and love are immediately thrown into brutal situations with no easy answers. Their choices are dictated by their morals, their sense of duty, and the harsh realities they face. And, let me tell you, I cried at least twice in these first 24 chapters.

A lot happens—not just in terms of romance, but also politics, action, and intense plot developments. That being said, I’m relieved that the excerpt didn’t end on a massive cliffhanger (though I know I’m probably not safe for long).

Still, I have no idea how Danielle is going to wrap this all up. There are so many unanswered questions, secrets, and unresolved plot points that I’m desperate to see play out. I’m both terrified and thrilled to read the rest of the book and witness how it all concludes. This might be too early to say, but based on what I’ve read so far, I already anticipate this being a five-star read for me. If necessary, I’ll adjust my rating once I’ve read the full book—but at this point, I can only imagine what else is in store.

This series has already solidified itself as one of my favorite YA fantasy series, and I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and tote for giving me an ARC excerpt of This book in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this excerpt and eagerly anticipate the release of the entire book. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t have access to it on NetGalley.

This book is everything to me! I did a quick reread before reading these chapters and I'm so glad I did. This picks up right where book 3 leaves off and doesn't slow down for a second! I tell everyone I meet to read this book and I'll be telling them again to get ready for the finale. My heart is in knots waiting for information to be revealed to characters and to me, I'm pretty sure I'll cry if I get the reunions I'm hoping for. Patiently waiting for the rest, August can't come soon enough!