“Immortal Dark,” by Shermon Kodi

Some aspects of the book were interesting, the demon trappers, illuminaries are religious demon hunters and stuff like that. I am getting a little tired of characters using drugs to manage magic powers, it’s just not my favorite thing. The book was not bad, but I wasn’t into the story very much and I didn’t feel super attached to the characters. 3 out of 5 stars.

-Demons
-Magic

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

To defeat the immortal dark, you must become it... Bexis' story, of overcoming the pain within you by embracing and acknowledging the darkness, was done so well. She struggled to choose friendship, to choose light, and even to choose the safety of the world over the people she cared about. She is flawed, she is messy, and she is so fun to root for anyways.

I loved the unique magic system of resonance. The characters all had my heart - I loved the focus on platonic bonds, although the romance was cute as well. The setting reminded me a lot of Ketterdam (I noticed a lot of similarities between the Grishaverse and this novel, but not in a bad way; this book fully stands apart). The gangs system, religious orders, and politicians all had a stake in the game. The world was fully fleshed out without being too overwhelming. I highly recommend this for fans of Leigh Bardugo's YA series or any fantasy with expansive and exciting worldbuilding!

Book Review: Immortal Dark by Shermon Kodi
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Immortal Dark plunges readers into a shadowy world where alliances are fleeting, power is corrupting, and no one can be trusted. Shermon Kodi masterfully crafts a dark YA fantasy filled with morally grey characters who constantly blur the line between hero and villain.

3.5 stars!

Firstly I want to apologize with being late with my review - I got way too many ARCs at once and then I despaired.

Finally finished this and: I loved the world and I loved our heroine and Xaleo. I loved Juzu and Mo and even Zihra (who I honestly wanted more of!). This has a fast pace because every little thing that happens serves to propel the story forward. Which is good because it keeps you interested but at the same time almost feels too much at certain points, with no space to sit and breathe.

Main reason for my rating is because of that - while I loved certain characters and the story overall, I just somehow didn't really connect with it in the way I thought I would. Even the biggest thing that would usually pull on my heartstrings, I guessed at the beginning (Juzu).

However, I'm really glad I read this.

It's a fantasy not a romance.
So I'm going to start with fantasy are not my favorite and there is one main reason. That's this big hard to pronounce names and cities. Trying to sound them out just slows the flow. However sometimes titles, covers or both get my attention then I read the blurb and go from tgere. This really sounded good.
Now having said that. The story started a bit slow but I found that sometime persevering it gets better. And it did.
I loved all the side characters especially the lost kids.
There are lots of twists and turns and betrayal.
The characters are interesting and the plot kind intriguing as Bexis is trying to stop a demon. I loved that Bexis is just a plain girl nothing special but chosen to be the one to wield the power.
So if it starts out slow to you hang in there it's really good.

This was a really enjoyable YA fantasy, the magic system was interesting but easy to follow, the FMC was flawed but likeable, and the pacing was fast from start to finish (you’re not waiting for everything to happen in the last 10% for a change!)

My only dislike was the romance, it kind of felt just pushed in there so there was some and honestly it didn’t really need it - the other relationships had more growth and satisfaction for me.

Would be 3.5 stars so rounded up!

I first want to say a huge thank you to NetGalley and Shermon Kodi for gifting me this ARC and the opportunity to supply my feedback!

I will preface this by saying I LOVE young adult fiction. Add magic, sci-fi, fantasy, and action in this mix and I am in heaven! This book easily hit all the marks I love!

While this is a YA book, I felt this story really stood out and on its own. It did not come across as “young” or child-mannered, in the sense you can easily tell which audience it was written for.

While being individually unique, this book was written with supreme world building and a magic system that is interesting and magnificent while being unlike others I have read in similar narratives.

The characteristic I enjoyed the most above all is that the entirety of the plot was never lost within the world building itself, which can be difficult to achieve, and the action of the story overall never lacked! It had me engrossed from the beginning, and I throughly enjoyed each second I spent reading this story!

Immortal Dark is a fast-paced, action packed YA dark fantasy novel that follows Bexis, a young woman with magical powers living in a kingdom of seemingly perpetual night and winter. Along with a diverse cast of friends, Bexis must find a way to defeat a dark, spiritual antagonist that threatens burn the world.

The world-building is thorough with details regarding the social hierarchy, the technology, and the location itself.

I found Immortal Dark to be a very exciting and well written adventure. This world is dark and unpredictable.

It is YA but not too young if that makes sense.

What i enjoyed most was the great character development. There weren't bland characters that got lost in the background. They were layered and emotionally complex. There was fabulous world building and unexpected plot twists. Very descriptive world building is always amazing. It had a very interesting magic system. The writing was easy to follow and not overly complex.


If you like morally grey characters, plot twists, and great world building then you would enjoy this book. Most of the characters are morally grey but you still manage to like them. (ifykyk.)

It isn't perfect but no book truly is however, I still enjoyed this book and suggest others give it a try as well.

Again thanks to the nerd fam for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal Dark is a fast-paced, action packed YA dark fantasy novel that follows Bexis, a young woman with magical powers living in a kingdom of seemingly perpetual night and winter. Along with a diverse cast of friends, Bexis must find a way to defeat a dark, spiritual antagonist that threatens burn the world.

The world-building is thorough and Kodi really gives the reader a sense of Bexis’s city – the social hierarchy, the technology, and the location itself. Bexis and her team of friends are fleshed out and well rounded; many are ‘morally grey’, while still managing to remain likeable. It’s a tough task to write a character that has the reader still rooting for them when they’re doing something wrong – but Kodi manages it. There were a couple of lines of dialogue that were a little to ‘real world modern’ for me, but other than that, I found Immortal Dark to be a very exciting and well written adventure.

ᨳ᭬ ⭑ || dnf @27% ࿐ྂ

I've decided to stop reading Books early if i really don't like them, and i'm having a hard time getting into the Story and getting used to the characters.

I really thought i might like this Book but unfortunately it's not for me at all. I know i'm still at the beginning but I'm pretty sure that i won't like it later either.

The writing style also makes it a little more difficult to get through

- Still a huge thank you to Netgalley & Shermon Kodi for giving me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

started : 03.03.25
stopped: 07.03.25

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely enjoyed this YA fantasy. It didn't read too young like other YA stories. The writing style is easy for me to follow without being too basic and too 'fantastical/out of this world.' It got me hooked from the first chapter. It's intriguing, action packed and unpredictable! I really enjoy the pacing of this book. There's absolutely descriptive world building in here and an interesting magic system, which I love and at the same time it was still easy for me to grasp on what's going on.

I can't wait to read more from this author!

Arc review

I really liked this book.. it had such a unique magical system without being too complex to follow and get lost.

It was extremely well written and was engaging throughout, I finished it in a few days. I loved the character Ajjan, he is my fave! I hope we see more of his character going forward..

It has all the elements of a great YA series, including a great found family. Fans of Cassandra Clare would definitely love this book.

The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars, was because I was hoping for a more in depth romantic story and build up between Bexis and Xaleo.. but that’s just a personal preference!

Overall, would definitely recommend!

The story follows seventeen-year-old Bexis, a survivor of the harsh streets of Coppejj, who relies on her shadow magic to eke out a living as a freelance thief. Her life takes a perilous turn when a routine heist goes awry, branding her with ancient magic and making her the target of a vengeful spirit. In her quest for answers, Bexis teams up with an eccentric demon hunter, uncovering a sinister plot that threatens to engulf the world in eternal darkness. Faced with confronting her haunted past, Bexis must decide whether to embrace the shadows within or risk losing everything she holds dear.

I Praise the novel for its unique approach to fantasy storytelling. The story elicited a range of emotions and featured unpredictable twists that kept them engaged until the end. They highlighted the author's skill in character development, making readers empathize with the protagonists and root for their success. The world-building was also commended for its vivid descriptions, allowing readers to visualize the settings and feel immersed in the narrative.

I am surprise at the depth and complexity of the characters, particularly Bexis. They appreciated the morally ambiguous decisions and unexpected plot developments, describing the world as dark, unpredictable, and gripping.

It was action-packed with thought through world building and interesting characters, but I skipped most of the story because I wasn't interested. Seems like just not my style, it feels like a technically great book.

Also, I have this rule that proves true so far - I should dnf a book that starts with a brothel. It's never a sign of something I'll love.

- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and Shermon Kodi for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Nothing is normal anymore, and I kind of love it!"

I picked up Immortal Dark, expecting a mild dark fantasy, and because it had a cool cover. What I got? A rollercoaster of morally questionable decisions, unexpected plot twists, and a world that makes my reality look like a boring infomercial.

What Stood Out (A.K.A. The Good Stuff)
📖 Character Development – These characters are not just here to look pretty, like one of those Dragon Rider spice books, you know the ones I'm talking about(self admittance, they are pretty good). They are messy, layered, and emotionally complex. (Yes, I got attached. No, I don’t want to talk about it.)
🌍 World-Building – I thought, "Oh, cool, another fantasy world." Then I blinked, and I was mentally mapping out the town and trying to figure out if it were a place I would thrive. (Spoiler: I would not survive but die dramatically.)
🔀 Plot Twists – You think you know where the story is going? Cute. That’s adorable. This book takes your predictions, tosses them into a void, and laughs while you try to recover.

Writing Style & World-Building:
The prose? Smooth. The world? Unforgiving. The stakes? Very much life or death. If you love descriptions that make you feel like a UFC ref standing in the middle of the octagon, this book is for you. In the words of the story:

"You think you're going to waltz in here with fairy powder and butterfly kisses and wish the bad people away?"

Nope. This world is dark, unpredictable, and unapologetically gripping. Buckle up.

Characters
🌀 Bexis – Our main character navigating life, self-discovery, and some serious orphan baggage. Rooting for her
🔥 Lum Carro – I would 100% throw hands at this guy. No questions asked.
💀 Xaleo – The kind of demon hunter who probably needs therapy but makes for fantastic entertainment.
✨ Juzu – The moral compass of the group. We need one of those.
🍬 Mo – Something is seriously wrong if this character doesn’t have snacks. Protect at all costs.

Who Should Read This?
✔️ If you like morally grey characters, plot twists that attack your soul, and worlds where survival is questionable, you need this book.
❌ If you prefer fluffy fantasy with zero stress, zero existential crises, and five stars of spice, you might want to rethink your life choices before diving in. Since spice seems to be the in thing right now, there is spice, but it's at a .5 factor, like holding hands in the back of a bus in fifth-grade type spice.

Final Thoughts
Is it perfect? No. Did I enjoy every chaotic second of it? Absolutely.
This book ruined my sleep schedule, hijacked my emotions, and I regret nothing.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (or 4.75 if you want to be precise)

That's a lovely story.
I've always loved an interesting magic system. The concept of resonance does sound fascinating. I wish we explored different powers/abilities a little more. For example, I remember there were three orders mentioned, but I don't believe we ever learned what the last one does.
I really enjoyed the characters. There were a lot of them, but I found them all quite memorable.The relationship between Bexis and her mentor was very touching.
The quest seemed to be rather rushed and rather formulaic in places, but it didn't take away from the general enjoyment of this book.
All in all, a good YA read.

This was an amazing read I couldn’t stop yapping to my husband about this book! The unique magic system had me hooked at the very beginning to the very end. If your wanting a great read with a badass fmc this is the book for you!