“If I look like a monster,’ he says roughly, ‘then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things.”

4.5 Stars ⭐

‘Where The Dark Stands Still’ started heavy on the action and didn’t stop until the book came to a close. We open to Liska hunting for a magical plant in the spirit-wood that will help rid her of her powers and where, instead, she comes across its demon guard. Soon she’s the beauty (or at least housekeeper) to the beast that roams her local woods. She finds she’s not the first to make a home in the crumbling sentient manor but something is waking in the wood and she might just be the last.

Short chapters and all the fast-paced action made this stand-alone easy to devour. It was an adjustment, however, to read a book so focused on the action that the character development had to catch up. That’s not to say it wasn’t present.

The author includes a series of flashbacks that help introduce us to Liska’s past and understand her character better. At first, they were minorly disorientating, but it felt better integrated as the story went on, and as we got to know Liska better I became more and more invested in finding out more about her. This was helped by the mystery and vague statements of guilt that surrounded why we found her at the very beginning in the spirit-wood- what was the catalyst?

As all the different threads, both Liska’s and The Leszy’s, become unravelled over the course of the book, you can see how far their characters have come. For someone who wasn’t sure about Liska and The Leszy at the start, I sure got immensely emotional at the end. I liked how brave and determined Liska was from the start but loved watching her develop into someone who was sure and confident in herself as well. There is a real theme of found family that comes across (my favourite) and it felt as if all the characters (I include the magic manor in this as well) were better because they found each other. All of them growing into themselves. I would classify this as Romantasy, but one that also explores friendship, sacrifice and family.

Finally, I adored the Polish folklore influence, all of the magical creatures and incredible settings that were inspired by it. I never felt as if Poranek info dumped but instead weaved a rich magical fairytale setting. I wouldn’t compare it to Howl’s Moving Castle personally, the tone and setting reminded me more of The Bear and The Nightingale and Uprooted but I can see elements here and there. Still, I think Poranek has a unique voice that comes across and I’m really excited to see what she writes next!

Where the Dark Stands Still gives remnants of Beauty and the Beast and Howls Moving Castle. Two pieces of fiction which I adore , so I know that I was in for an enjoyable read.

Which is what it was.

The story sets up as though it’s the familiar tale of beauty and the beast, but quickly turns into something that is almost a little darker on the surface but underneath is a magical world which draws you in from the first page.

I loved the build up of the relationship between Liska and Lesky, how it slowly morphed into a friendship before growing further into romance.

The ending completely broke me and left me sobbing, although it wasn’t what I hoped for , it was clear it was the only way the story could have truly ended.

this book was everything! Liska and the Leszy's story is filled to the brim with magic, love, and everything in between. what immediately drew me in was the writing - while the book is very well developed in terms of plot and characters, I think what shines the brightest is the writing.

"She will be just like any other villager. She will belong. Belong. Yes, a single year at the whims of a wood-demon is worth a lifetime of belonging."

there were so many little things that made me fall in love with the book, such as:
- each chapter has its own title! (this is definitely a lost art that should make a comeback)
- a uniquely beautiful found family that I wasn't expecting in the beginning of the book
- secrets and mysteries to uncover at every step
- a perfectly imperfect H who warms his way into the h's heart (and mine!)
- a fascinating magic system

"Somehow, his teasing manages to comfort her. She feels known for the slightest of moments, shorter than the fall of a raindrop or the chirp of songbird. It's unsettling to realize that he might understand her better than anyone has before."

if you want to read an enchanting book that will take hold of your heart and demand to be read, to be felt, then this is the book for you.

4 stars

Where the Dark Stands Still is inspired by Polish folklore, containing a magical forest, demons, and a sentient house.

This story was atmospheric, at times haunting, and whimsical all wrapped up. We follow Liska who must grapple with accepting and learning to wield her magic after making a deal with the demon warden of the Driada. I enjoyed her character and the interactions with the Leszy and how their relationship built over time. The side characters however are what I loved the most and their development towards an odd yet heart-warming found family. Jaga in particular was the star with her remarks and interactions with the other characters.

My biggest criticism is the last quarter of the book was the most exciting part of the story, yet the most rushed. I would have liked for it to have been longer to get more depth of the revelations made and what that meant for the characters. I also was not a fan of the ending, this however may be more down to preference of what I want out of an ending, putting that preference aside I do think it was bittersweet and wrapped up the story well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book! 100%. It will definitely be a top contender for my fave book of 2024!

I hadn't reminded myself of the blurb or reviews before I started reading this book, and I'm SO glad I dived straight in! Featuring strong character development, a haunted wood and sentient house, this book is full to the brim of magic and mystery.

Sharing similar folklore to Naomi Novik's Uprooted, Where the Dark Stands Still draws from slavic folklore to create a dark and wild world where magic is forbidden and feared by the citizens.

I don't want to give anything away- go and read it now!!! 😁

Extremely gutted I've finished it, and I'm now praying for a sequel so I can jump straight back into Liska's world!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for the early access title & Waterstones, for my bookseller discount and gorgeous sprayed edge edition!

A gorgeous folklore inspired tale that’s full of magic and mystery. Spooky forest, a sentient house and a love story too.

If you enjoyed “the bear and the nightingale” I think you will like this one.

The writing is beautiful, it’s so easy to visualise the story, for a debut novel it’s absolutely incredible and I can’t wait to see what the author does next.

Howl’s Moving castle meets polish folklore!
It was magical, immersive, and truly spellbinding - a setting straight from a fairytale with some charming romance to go with it!
A crumbling but sentient manor in a magical forest? Yes please! The forest is as dangerous and it is beautiful, and its magic is evident throughout this story!
The characters and writing were both endearing and engaging every step of the way! Their dynamics were enamouring, and humorous at times, very reminiscent of Sophie and Howl from Howl’s moving castle; seeing how their care and duty to each other despite the roles they feel they have to play is both heart wrenching and warming.
A stunning debut, and I can’t wait to see what this author produces next!

Inspired by the Polish wild lands A.B. Poranek explored as a child, Where the Dark Stands Still tells the story of Liska, a young woman fleeing her village for the demon and spirit-filled wood, the Driada. Born with magic in a society ruled by the Church, Liska has lived with the fear of discovery since childhood. At the start of the book, we don’t know what has sent Liska fleeing into the dangerous forest, we just know that she is desperate enough to put all her faith in a mythical flower that will grant her one wish.

Liska intends to use that wish to get rid of her magic for good.

Against all odds, she manages to find the flower and more than she expected. Like all humans who wish to travel through the Driada, she had made an offering to the Leszy, the demon who rules the forest. An offering to grant her protection on her path. Not only does she step off her path, but she is there to steal from him because the flower that she needs to solve all her problems belongs to the Leszy…

He catches her in the act, and offers her a bargain; one year of her life serving him in the Driada, and then he will grant her wish. He will take her magic.

The more time she spends with the Leszy, the more Liska learns about him and her situation. There are secrets on top of secrets, and just when she thinks she has learned everything, she finds there is more to know. When she finds out that there have been other companions, and that they’ve mysteriously vanished, leaving their belongings behind in the Leszy’s mansion, it becomes even more imperative that she uncovers those secrets before her year of servitude is up.

Eerie forest scenes are juxtaposed with the warmth and humour of a sentient manor house and sassy house spirit. Fans of Howl’s Moving Castle will enjoy this one, as will readers who like books with fairytale and folktale vibes. Where the Dark Stands Still successfully encompasses all of these while managing to stand on its own with interesting characters and a strong plot.

While there is a romance that includes ‘the young girl falls in love with an immortal’ trope, this book doesn’t rely completely on it. The romance is just one part of the book, and if you’re not a fan of romances or this trope, there’s plenty more to enjoy. There’s a huge amount of character growth and the ending of this one was very satisfactory. I particularly liked the way that Poranek wrote Liska as a rational heroine who weighs up the information in front of her rather than run screaming just because something difficult is presented to her.

Where the Dark Stands Still is a perfect standalone novel, but I would love to see Poranek return to the world she has created in it. The world-building is so intriguing and has so many possibilities. This is a brilliant debut novel and one that I recommend checking out if you love dark dangerous forests, magic, stubborn demons and sassy characters.

This is a beautiful Slavic folklore book that will appeal to fans of Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, and those who have read For the Wolf.

I love the mixture of Slavic folklore and Christianity, which reminds me of Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale. The forest reminds me of For the Wolf. Altogether, the story comes together to produce an enchanting tale of magic and loss and hope and love and finding beauty in the dark.

I really enjoyed this book, I am fan of books with Slavic mythology.

As a someone coming from Slavic country, it's very nice to read books that bring our not so known mythology to many other people and make it more known.

I found the book very interesting right from the beginning, but I struggled a little bit with it from 20-40%, as it was a bit slow. Then it got much faster and very interesting and I read the rest in two sittings.
Book would have been better if this small pacing issue wasn't present, as it does feel a bit rushed at the end. SPOILERS:
For example, it would be nicer if she learned full truth when it was not his last 2 days to solve it. Maybe a last month and then she practised her magic more, as it now felt like she freed it and it right away new how to use it.

I really wish Lesky didn't die. While it is refreshing not to have magic solve everything, I still wish he lived. Epilogue hints that Liska is finding a way to bring his spirit back as he lingered back and that makes me wonder, will there be a second book? While I expected a standalone, I'd love another book!</spoiler>

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, it was such a pleasure to read this book!

This evocative and magical book was a really enjoyable read which grew and grew on me as the story and characters unfolded.

Liska, raised in a small village near the Driada - the spirit-wood - was taught that magic is evil - something to be scared of, ashamed of, kept hidden. So when her own powers are unleashed she flees deep into the dangerous wood in an attempt to find a mythical, wish granting flower and be rid of her magic for good. But she is caught by the Leszy - the demon warden of the wood - who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for the wish she so desperately wants.

But once settled into the House Under the Rowan Tree - his neglected, cobwebbed manor - Liska discovers that she is not the first person to strike such a bargain with the warden, and that those who enter the wood do not always return...

"Magic, at its fundamental level, is a heightening of the senses."

This lush, atmospheric tale contains some wonderful characters, especially Liska, Eliasz and Jaga and I loved the sense of found family and the power of self acceptance that is at the heart of this book. As the tale moved forward I found myself more and more engrossed in the story and rooting for the characters and their possibilities - "What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?" This book is very well crafted with several twists and turns and I will be thinking about the ending for a while...

The writing slowly draws you in although I did find the 3rd person present tense narration a little jarring on occasion. The story also has rather a lot of traditional words and names from Polish folklore that some unfamiliar readers may find difficult - a glossary would certainly have been helpful in this respect. Otherwise this is a very rewarding read with Beauty and the Beast vibes and you find yourself becoming more and more immersed in the evocative magic of the forest and its inhabitants as the story progresses.

Where the Dark Stands Still is a solid, enjoyable 4.5 - 4.75 star read and I would definitely read more from this author. Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Penguin for the ARC of this book.

The story centres around a girl called Liska whose magical powers makes her an outcast in her small village. One night she decides to make a deal with the Leszy; the demon of the woods to take her magic away. It comes at a price though, she must spend a year in servitude to the Leszy. He brings her to his magical sentient manor where she meets more mystical creatures and begins to learn the secret history of the Leszy and where he got his powers.

The story is slow which I'd usually shy away from but you become so immersed in the world that it made reading this book very enjoyable. The world building is well thought out and cohesive. It has the same vibes as Howls Moving Castle and a bit of Beauty and the Beast but it adds so much more depth to its history and characters.

I enjoyed joining Liska in her journey of getting to know the Leszy and became endeared to the characters that she meets along the way. It was a beautiful cosy fantasy read which I thoroughly enjoyed. So much so in fact I’ve already purchased a hardcopy of the book. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone that loves Howls Moving Castle or cosy fantasy reads. A five star read for me.

Based on Polish folklore this story begins like Beauty & the Beast but it quickly takes on its own persona.
I loved the strong feminine characters & developing storyline & the ending (without giving spoilers) was heart wrenching!

Beautiful, poetic, and full of delicious folklore. An absolute joy to read - cannot recommend enough!

Full review here: https://youtu.be/c_L1ZIv5WFY

Absolutely loved this one! The author wove a beautiful tapestry of folklore, with a vivid world and enchanting characters. I greatly enjoyed the writing style and thought the atmosphere was set brilliantly. The magic system was great, harking back to old fairytales. I also really enjoyed all the Polish influences. Overall brilliant book, would recommend for a fun riff on beauty and the beast.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin Random House for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: grief, body horror, death, blood, gore, implied emotional abuse, demons

“Where The Dark Stands Still” is a beautiful Polish-inspired YA romantic fantasy debut that took my heart from the first page. Set in a village bordered by a forest called the Driada infested with demons in a land more rapidly dominated by religion, the story follows Liska who carries magic- the kind the church calls monstrous- in her veins. After a tragedy with devastating consequences, Liska flees into the forest hoping to find the fern flower that will force the Lezshy, the demon guardian of the woods, to grant her a wish. She wants to be free of her powers forever and to return to her life with the hope that things will improve for her reputation once she’s like everyone else. However, there’s a problem- Liska hasn’t paid the price for safe passage and the Lezshy catches Liska; in exchange for that wish, he wants her to serve him for a year. Liska soon finds herself whisked away to a dilapidated, sentient manor house called the House under the Rowan Tree where not everything is as it seems- the Lezshy isn’t a terrible monster with a skull head but someone with a tragic, centuries-long past- and that there have been people here before just like her, only none of them ever managed to go home. To survive her year of servitude to the Lezshy, Liska must dig deeper into his past and discover the secrets hidden in the ruined house, all while faced with demons breaking through the wards and a growing romance between them.

I saw comparisons to “Howl’s Moving Castle” for this book and I think that describes it perfectly, there was something so comforting about the banter between the two lead characters even when they’re in a dangerous forest. Liska is an outcast from everybody in her village and the safety she finds in the home of the Lezshy is so special, especially as the reader learns more about her past. Her bravery and kindness gradually break through the shell of the Lezshy, revealing someone she can connect to in a way that she never has before. I loved the side characters and the world here, especially as Liska’s understanding of her surroundings grew, as well as how history and religion were woven into the story. This is a really strong and enjoyable debut, with beautiful writing and characters, and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

5/5 stars

I vividly remember inhaling this book in a matter of hours on a road trip and being completely bewitched by every sentence.

This book has everything I love in fantasy books:

- vivid, lush descriptions
- folkloric history
- an eldritch forest that seems almost alive
- a Howl Pendragon-esque main love interest that sweeps me off my feet

A. B. Poranek has become a new auto-buy author for me with her magical storytelling and her captivating characters. If you liked books such as The Bear and the Nightingale or For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten, Where the Dark Stands Still is the perfect book to capture your heart!

Where the Dark Stands Still is my new standard for folklore-based fantasy stories. It lavishly weaves its story, firmly enticing you into a wood full of spirits, demons, and magic.

Liska Radost has been brought up to fear her magic, so when she hears of a flower deep in the woods that could grant her wish to be rid of it once and for all, she sets out to find it. After getting turned around in the terrifying woodland, she eventually finds it... in the grounds of The Leszy’s dilapidated manor. Leszy is the warden of the forest, a horrifying vision of a boy with a stag skull for a head. He makes a bargain with her—he will grant her wish if she stays by his side for a year. Liska accepts, and thus is brought into the house under the Rowan Tree, and here our story truly begins.

Frankly, the whole book is just gorgeous. The manor, the wood, the characters, the storyline—it is all beat-for-beat perfect. There are house spirits, centuries-old bargains, curses, and tragic love stories. The whole novel just felt so vivid, unfurling before my eyes like a tapestry. I fell in love with each main character and would have happily spent 500 more pages with them. I also want to highlight the dialogue; it’s just so good. The interactions between Liska and Leszy as they learn more about each other is just so well done. Jaga, the house spirit, with all her quips, was also a personal favourite of mine.

It’s beautifully haunting and truly a phenomenal debut. I’m looking forward to seeing what this author puts out in the future; I already know that I’ll be lining up to read it.

I would highly recommend this book if you love folklore-based tales, Beauty and the Beast, Miyazaki films, and just good fantasy tales in general.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

I absolutely adored every second of reading When the Dark Stands Still!

It had everything, atmospheric and moody setting, loveable characters and a great plot.

WTDSS is a dark YA fantasy based on Slavic/Polish folklore, giving major fairytale vibes. Imagine The Beauty and the Beast meets Howls Moving Castle Moving Castle with a sprinkling of A Study in Drowning. We get great tropes such as untamed magic, reluctant hero and training.

A.B. Poranek's writing is beautiful. It is vividly descriptive and the eerie prose creates the perfect atmosphere while reading this charming yet mysterious story.

The characters were so fun. Liska is instantly loveable, our outcast witch in denial, Jaga is stellar and the house - which is sentient btw - was delightful! The Lesky is all brooding and mysterious that you can't help but fall for him, antlers and all.

I'm so excited to not only read this book again but to read whatever A.B. Poranek writes next!

What to expect:
- Slavic Folklore
- Magical Forbidden Forest
- Eerie prose and Vivid descriptions
- Demons/creatures
- Suppressed magic
- Training

Where the dark stands still - A. B. Poranek

My rating: 5⭐️

I definitely recommend this book to all fantasy lovers who are interested in:
-gothic fantasy
-polish folklore
-slavic mythology
-grumpy/sunshine slow burn romance
-sentient manor
-haunted forest
-demons/spirits/witches
-found family

Summary:

Liska lives in a small, religious village and tries her best to hide her forbidden magic she has had since childhood. One day, she unleashes her power which consequently hurts the people she loves most. Liska decides to get rid of her magic regardless of what it will take.

She goes to the Driada, the demon haunted forest and makes a bargain with it's warden: the Leszy takes away her magic in exchange for one year of servitude.

Liska finds herself in a crumbling manor that seems to have it's own secrets and soon she learnes the truth: to really save her loved ones, she needs to embrace her true self.

Spoiler free review:

(EARC provided by Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children's. Thank you so much for this opportunity.)

I couldn't put this book down and I read it in a day, it was captivating from the beginning.
I loved the world building and the atmosphere, the descriptions were so beautifully written that I didn't struggle with imagining the characters and places.
The book was full of mysteries, twists and revelations, there was no time to get bored.

Liska and the Leszy's character development was great and I loved that their romance wasn't rushed but wasn't too slow either.

This book made me feel all kinds of emotions; it made me laugh and cry, and the ending left me staring at the last page for minutes.

A. B. Poranek became an autobuy author for me, it's hard to believe that this is her debut novel.

Review shared on Waterstones, Amazon and my social media.