Set in a storm-wracked city, the story follows Prince Dalca, tasked with protecting his home from the deadly storm, and Vesper Vale, the daughter of failed revolutionaries. When their paths cross, Vesper is determined to protect her family, even if it means delving into her father's experimental magic and infiltrating Prince Dalca's inner circle. The Darkening is a dark YA fantasy with morally grey characters that keep the plot twisty and lively, making it a non-stop adventure to the end.

I adored Vesper; she was so easy to root for by how courageous and bold she was. The supporting cast, particularly Iz and Casvian, were great and added layers to the story and a potential ship for the sequel. On the top of romance, it really was something else. Enemies to lovers on steroids. My blood pressure could not cope! I am quite intrigued to see how it develops in the sequel.

My only quibble was around the worldbuilding, which felt a bit confusing at times, as if the author was so familiar with the world, they forgot the readers were not and subsequently did not give enough detail and context, or put the intricacies in a simpler explanation. However, the way the author juggled multiple plot lines and planted the seeds for the sequel so seamlessly... And how action-packed the ending was to keep me on the edge of my seat... really was impressive for a debut novel.

While I appreciate the effort put into crafting this story, I personally found it challenging to fully engage with it despite multiple attempts. The worldbuilding shows promise, but unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters and the execution of the narrative. I regret to say that I can only award it 1.5 stars.

Not my Jam

Getting started with “The Darkening” by Sunya Mara was a bit difficult for me. It took me a while to find my way around the new fantasy world, but then the story really carried me away. We are thrown straight into the story, straight away an exciting beginning.

Vesper is a strongwilled young woman who has lost everything in the world and who she loved. That's why she tries everything to free her beloved father from captivity and infiltrates herself into the ranks of her enemies.

As much as I liked the beginning of the story, I didn't like how it continued. In my opinion, Vesper has changed very quickly and, in my opinion, has lost some of its likeability, which is a great shame. In fact, I didn't warm to any of the male characters. My least favorite was Prince Dalca. And the direction the plot took wasn't really my thing either.

Therefore, “The Darkening” unfortunately only gets 2 out of 5 stars from me.

Thank You to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

What to expect:
🔪 enemies to lovers to enemies
🔐 secrets
🌪️ storm beasts
♋️ iconomancy
❤️ complex & wholesome relationships

The Darkening is a unique blend of fantasy & dystopia, set in a world surrounded by a giant storm that is slowly moving closer to the five remaining factions. Society is very much set out like a class system. We have faction five, the outer ring and the poorest. Faction one is where the royalty live, and are the most privileged living the furthest away from the storm.

Our main character Vesper lives in faction five with her father who is in hiding. They live in a sort of orphanage filled with people who are storm-touched. Society see this as a curse, as each person develops a unique and bizarre affliction.

Vesper’s fathers location is found and he is taken by the prince to the first faction to face punishment for his rebellion in the previous years. We follow Vesper undercover as she journeys to the first faction to find her father.

The relationships she forms are complex, and each character is very morally grey which I personally love. The was also some great banter.

Thank you to the publisher, author & NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunya Mara is amazing, I was not prepared for how much I would love this. Thank you for the early copy to review.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara is the first instalment in a gripping new fantasy series that kept me hooked from page one. With experimental magic, a cursed storm, an undercover protagonist, and a royal love interest, this one contains so many elements that I love. I especially enjoyed the balance between worldbuilding and action, which makes this one a rich and unputdownable debut that fantasy fans will love.

Years ago, Vesper’s revolutionary mother was captured by the queen’s soldiers and sentenced to death by a storm that surrounds the city. When Vesper’s father, the only family she has left, is taken as a prisoner himself, she is determined to do whatever it takes to save him. Armed with her father’s book of experimental magic, Vesper disguises herself as an apprentice in order to infiltrate the castle. However, when she realizes that there is more good in the prince than she thought, her path to saving her father becomes more complex than she thought.

Vesper is an interesting main character, and I enjoyed reading about her internal conflict. She is an advocate for justice for the outer rings of her city, and while she has big shoes to fill as the daughter of revolutionaries, I liked how she chooses her own path and makes her own decisions. Vesper’s loyalty to her father is especially touching, even when her desire to save the city conflicts with her plans to save him. Throughout the book, she undergoes a lot of self-discovery, and I enjoyed the direction her character takes in the end.

As I was reading, I found myself hooked by the pacing of this book. Pacing is often something I struggle with in fantasies, but Sunya Mara successfully kept me engaged throughout the whole story. She begins by taking the time to unpack the world and its social conditions, and I appreciated getting a feel for the environment before diving into the plot. While there are many descriptions at the beginning of the book, I was never bored by these, and the story remains action-packed and suspenseful all the way through as we fear for Vesper’s cover being blown.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara is an epic fantasy with many surprising elements. I enjoyed the idea of experimental magic and a cursed storm, and the main character develops throughout the story. As someone who tends to struggle with long fantasy novels, I enjoyed the pacing of this one, and I would recommend it to those looking for a thrilling new series with an exciting world.

A novel of two halves for me. Once I decided to just accept the premise of the storm as presented to us, I was enjoying this story that was interesting enough, even though I do think we had a main character who was slightly tiresome to spend the whole story with - she made a lot of rash decisions, and then moaned about them and then made more rash decisions. These decisions weren't really based on anything that I could tell...

However, between halfway and two-thirds of the way through it really lost me. I'm not sure if this was partly because I had to stop reading at that point and couldn't quite get back in the flow when I picked it up again, but I don't think so. I think it's because the turn it takes is something that I personally don't really enjoy in stories and then after that while what actually happened was fine for me, the way it was told was harder for me to persevere with.

I did like some aspects of the mythology but I also have questions. I would guess that they will be answered in book two.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Darkening is a book that certainly took me by surprise, I was not expecting to enjoying this as much as i did. From the first page to the last it was such a strong book that had me captivated straight away.

From the enemies to lovers to enemies and the strong, complex magic system to the worldbuilding and the character development, Sunya Mara is certainly has a way with her writing and is not afraid to throw it all at you and take it all away again.

I am really excited for book 2 to see where all this goes

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton for this E-arc

Loved this book, I was a little unsure at first however as it continued I really enjoyed the overall theme, characters, story and twists and turns. Really well written and will read more from this author in the future.

I took an unintending long pause on this one as I flipped from audio where I lost interest over to reading normally.

This is an interesting fantasy world but it didn't wholly excite me which may have something to do with that long pause I had. I did initally connect with the MC but over time I felt like I lost the connection.

Narration wise, there was nothing wrong with the narration but it was the world I was losing focus on. I did do better with the ebook.

Rounded up to 3 stars

A fierce revolutionary. A desperate prince. Together they will face the Storm, or be swept away . . .

Prince Dalca was born for one purpose: to protect his home from the Storm, a deadly force that surrounds his city and curses everyone it touches. Vesper Vale is the daughter of failed revolutionaries. Since the Queen sentenced her mother to death by the Storm, she and her father have been on the run.

So when the queen's soldiers - led by Prince Dalca - catch up to Vesper's father, she will do whatever it takes to save him from sharing her mother's cruel fate.

Even arm herself with her father's book of dangerous experimental magic.

Even infiltrate the prince's elite squad of soldier-sorcerers.

Even cheat her way into his cold heart.

But when Vesper learns that there's more to the story of her mother's death, and that her home is in dire peril, she has little choice: trust the devious prince with her family's secrets, or follow her mother's footsteps into the Storm . . .


Really good!!!
Enjoyed this story wholeheartedly!

This was an enticing debut from Sunya Mara! I enjoyed this high-stakes fantasy mixed with political intrigue, alluring magic, and romance. The South Asian influences, although not as prominent as other South Asian fantasies, were also super cool to follow along with. I liked following Vesper on her mission to rescue her father from the clutches of the Wardana by posing as a third-year apprentice. This trope of the MC sneaking into the castle undercover to learn of the courts' secrets is not new in YA Fantasy, but it was still interesting to read about. I also really liked each of Vesper's dynamics with Dalca, Iz, and Cas and how some bonds grew (while others didn't) as the story progressed. The action sequences were also written in a very visceral manner and I found myself holding my breath any time Vesper or her father were in danger.

I think where the story fell short for me is that the lore and magic system in the novel got really convoluted towards the middle to end of the novel. I had a hard time following along with the secrets that were being revealed about the origin of the Wardana and Vesper's mother's relation to it all. The last third of the novel felt really muddled to me and also much more fast paced compared to the first two-thirds of the novel. There were a lot of character choices that surprised me/felt slightly OOC for a character considering how they were acting in the first half of the novel, so I was unsure about that as well.

The Darkening is a captivating story set in a world of revolution, magic, and secrets. The plot follows Vesper, the daughter of revolutionaries, as she attempts to save her city from a cursed storm. Vesper infiltrates the prince's elite squad of soldier-sorcerers and cheats her way into his cold heart using her father's book of dangerous magic.

Readers are drawn into l Vesper's inner monologue and descriptions of the world and characters. The concept of a constant storm with monsters lurking inside is intense and adds a layer of tension to the story.

The characters lack depth, with their personalities defined by a single trait. The romance between Vesper and Dalca is lacking, with more chemistry between Vesper and Cas and more in common with Izamal. The plot is intriguing and picks up around the 30% mark when Vesper begins her training. The pacing is excellent for the first 80% of the book, but it falters slightly in the final 20%, with too much crammed in.

The main conflict is between Vesper and the Storm, as well as Vesper and Dalca. The conflict with the storm is much more fleshed out, with great lore and personal attachment to the storm. Vesper and Dalca's conflict is devoid of chemistry. Furthermore, the details of ikonomancy are hazy, with the only explanation coming at the end of the book.

The Darkening is an enjoyable read with a captivating story and atmosphere. The characters and romance are lacking, but the story is intriguing and I look forward to the sequel to find out what happens next.

This book starts strong and ends strong. There was good action to start with and it was a good introduction to the world, the magic system and the politics. I loved Vesper, she is so determined and i enjoyed seeing her develop as her own person as the book went on. There wasnt a moment in this book that i found predictable, in fact the plot twist was such a surprise, it was so good. Im really hoping there will be a second one. I want to know what is going to happen to all the friendships and the love interest. I highly recommend this book.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara is a fun YA fantasy centred on revolution and its aftermath. Vesper is the daughter of failed revolutionaries, trapped in a city surrounded by eternal storm. This is twisty and full of betrayal – almost veering towards Grimdark. And yes, I know how wrong it sounds when I say it’s fun book. But to me, dark, twisty books full of characters with dubious morality ARE fun! Of course, there is also a pretty prince and a romance, as appropriate for YA. And revolutions and the political mess that ensues really aren’t talked about enough in books. It feels like every time politics come up, it’s either to show a successful revolution or to keep the status quo going. But to delve into issues caused by a failed change? I need more of this. The Darkening is a fast-paced read, with high tension throughout, making for a compelling story. The characters are well written, and the world the story is set in is fascinating. I enjoyed this a lot, and I am very much looking forward to the second book in the duology. Writing this up has made me want to pick up the book again and reread it – so that’s a good sign, right?!

Ok where is all the hype around this book! I devoured this book in one sitting and I honestly need more people to have read it so we can gush together.

This book honestly got me out of a book slump. To some the plot would seem basic but do you know what when you are reading a fantasy YA this is what you need so that you can immerse yourself into it as you can understand what is happening straight away and allows for the book to gain momentum and as I know this is going to be a series, a duology at least there is room for more worldbuilding and character growth.

Vesper is the main character in this book. She I feel is an outcast, she is living on the outskirts of the town and is the on the outer rings of the civilisation. This is where it gets slightly more complex - the world is made up of seven cities, the outer rings (where Vesper resides) are barren due to the magical element of the book. She is fighting not only for her life but for others that live there. The further you move into the rings the richer the occupants become, so you see already we have a hierarchy with the rich and powerful living within the middle sectors leaving those on the outer rings to deal with The Darkening (the magical element) alone.

Vesper rightly so doesn't feel this is fair and that things should be different. She herself is different, daughter to outlaws and those that have tried to oppose the powerful. She sets out to right some wrongs and along the way she meets three powerful Soldiers one being the Queens son things take a turn for not the worst but for the better I would say. She immerses herself with the three of the Soldiers to try and deal with the Darkening but along the way there are some dangers, tragedies and some unexpected turns.

I honestly really enjoyed the book. Did it end on a cliff-hanger and have me utter a few choice words, maybe. The magical element was easy to follow but know that more will be revealed the further along in the series we go. I also liked the characters, and yes, it is a YA book, I feel that it is on the cusp of the upper end of this category but that's fine as I like a good YA read. There are a few tropes within the book, dare I say Enemies to Lovers which is one of my all-time favourites as well as one of my least favourites which is the chosen one. I am looking forward to seeing where Sunya Mara takes this in the next book with both the characters and the magic system.

Das Buch ist sehr schön geschrieben. Eine Geschichte in der Feinde zu Liebenden und wieder zu Feinden werden. Neue Magien werden ausprobiert , ein Sturm der als Antagonist aufzutreten scheint. Manchmal fand ich es etwas schwierig zu lesen und auch der Story zu folgen. Trotzdem möchte ich Teil 2 unbedingt lesen und bin gespannt, ob ich Dalca wieder lieben kann.

I got a special edition of this book in a subscription box. Firstly, the cover is stunning. The main character was likeable and also mostly relatable, although she seemed to pick fault and change her opinion on people so easily. I appreciate that the ending didn’t end on a cliff hanger. 50 pages from the end I was thinking “any other author would leave it here”, but felt that the ending could’ve made the book a standalone. Overall I enjoyed it, although not sure I’d be bothered about picking up book 2 given the satisfying ending to this one.

Sunya Mara - The Darkening

Ich habe bis 71% gelesen, habe mich aber jetzt doch entschieden das Buch abzubrechen.

Wo lag das Problem?
Um ehrlich zu sein glaube ich lag es daran dass es zu sehr Young Adult war. Mir fehlte die Liebesgeschichte und auch teilweise der rote Faden. Das Buch hatte keinen richtigen Höhepunkt und es fehlte mir immer wieder die Lust weiterzulesen.
Auch mit der Welt wurde ich nicht richtig warm.
Ich habe mir irrsinnig schwer getan in die Welt abzutauchen, die Welt überhaupt zu verstehen. Es kamen nie klare Bilder in meinen Kopf und es fehlte das Gefühl. Die Protagonistin hatte auch magische Fähigkeiten und da sprach man von irgendwelchen Symbolen-Insignien etc. da fehlte mir der komplette Plan! Wie jetzt?
Ich muss gestehen ich hatte mir etwas ganz anderes vorgestellt anhand des Klappentextes.

Empfehlung?
Ich möchte das Buch auf keinen Fall schlecht reden. Ich würde es jedem empfehlen der nicht zwingend eine Liebesgeschichte in Fantasy Büchern braucht und wirklich ein gutes Young Adult Fantasy Buch sucht.

Mein Buch war es leider nicht.
1 ⭐️ / 5 ⭐️
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I've read up to 71%, but now I've decided to DNF the book.

What was the problem?
To be honest I think it was because it was really very young adult. I missed the love story and sometimes the common thread. The book never had a real high and I didn't have the desire to continue reading.
I didn't really got into the World.
I found it incredibly difficult to immerse myself in the world, to understand the world at all. Real pictures never came into my head and the feeling was missing. The protagonist also had magical abilities and there was talk of some symbolic insignia etc. I didn't have the complete plan! Like right now?
I have to admit I had imagined something completely different based on the blurb.

Recommendation?
I definitely don't want to badmouth the book. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't necessarily need a love story in fantasy books and is really looking for a good young adult fantasy book.

Unfortunately, it wasn't my book.
1 ⭐️ / 5 ⭐️

Vesper and her father live in the outskirts of the city, very close to the storm. The Storm curses everybody it touches and has been there as long as Vesper remembers. Her parents are failed revolutionaries and Vesper has to keep her fatehr’s identity hidden, as her mother was sentenced to the Storm twelve years prior. The King’s soldiers find Vesper’s father and she is determined to do anything she can to protect him and stop him from facing the same fate.

‘Blood isn’t a leash, love. Your choice is yours.’

Vesper has been forbidden from using magic, but when her father is taken she vows to learn whatever she can. The prince has an elite squad of sorcerers, and in order to become as powerful as she can, Vesper decides to infiltrate it. She meets one of the prince’s soldiers, Iz, who offers to help her in disguise her. Once in, she officially meets Prince Dalca, who I adored! And his other top soldier, Cas, who is her trainer, and immediately decides he despises her. I loved Vesper and Cas’ dynamic over the course of the novel as they learned to respect one another, especially after that ending!

‘To do the one good thing that I must do, I find myself caught in a thousand small evils.”
I squeeze his hand until he looks at me. “I hope that one thing is worth it.”
“It is the only thing that matters.’

Prince Dalca is the love interest and I did fall in love. He was charming and Vesper and Dalca worked together over the novel to figure out how to stop the Storm. Whilst helping Dalca, Vesper was determined to find her father and free him, which led to some very rocky moments in the relationship I was rooting for!

I loved this book and if you love YA Fantasy with great world building, magic systems and a bit of romance, then this is the book for you! After that ending, I am desperate for the sequel!