I LOVED this book. Fokelore fantasy at its best. My only regret is that I read it alone, my teen grandaughter would have adored reading this with me. I will have to buy her the book. A marvellous book.

— 3.75
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Where the Dark Stands Still was so gorgeously written with its compelling and descriptive writing, haunting atmosphere and interesting cast of characters. I will admit that it took me some time to get into the style of writing to be found in this story. Whilst being written in third person, it’s as if it’s being told by the POV of a narrator who was a spectator to the events as opposed to be included. This isn’t something that I’ve come across before, but it made for an interesting reading experience. Liska was a wonderful main character to follow with her bold nature and determination to uncover the mysteries to be found, with a kind heart to balance her out. I wish we’d gotten more from the romance aspect as it felt surface level with room for development, however I found Where the Dark Stands Still to be an enriching and compelling reading experience that I would happily recommend to others.

A gorgeously written fantasy that is richly rooted in polish folklore, this beauty and the beast inspired book is definitely a darkly whimsical gothic treat! Although in many ways it is very different, in others it reminded me of Starling House, partly because of meddling sentient houses and partly because it has a sinister. gothic undertone with twists and turns.

The world building and descriptions in this were beautiful, creating a really lush setting and I really liked that it began by going straight into the action with a fast pace and then utilising memories to give context and fill in the blanks. I also liked the characters and the romance between Liska and the Leszy.

I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve had Where the Dark Stands Still sat on my shelf since October and had honestly forgotten all about it. The book has a stunning cover which is what initially drew me to it and a wonderful story rich in Polish folklore and terrifying mythical creatures.

Liska is the village outcast and after a series of unexplainable events, she decides to venture into the forest that borders her rural village in search of a flower that would grant her a wish. Liska wants to be normal and the wish would see her magic taken from her so she can be just that, normal. After a few encounters with the forest's nastier residents, she makes it to the flower but nothing is ever as simple as it seems. The flower disappears and instead the warden of the forest, the Leszy stands before her and offers her a deal. Serve him for a year and he will grant her wish.

Liska agrees but the more time she spends with the Leszy in his manor in the woods the more she realises all is not as it seems. She sets out to uncover the Leszy’s secrets and protect the villages being plagued by the demons that escape the forest before it’s too late.

Where the Dark Stands Still is a beautifully written tale rich in mystery, magic and a hint of romance. The relationship between Liska, the Leszy and all the manor’s inhabitants develops so naturally due to Liska’s determination to make the best of the situation and need to find her place in the world. I can’t wait to read more from A.B. Poranek in the future.

Ratings
Spice: 🌶️
Story: ⭐️⭐⭐⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐

For lovers of grim forests, tormented demons, tangled tales, and buried magic.

I'm so glad I picked this up, this is exactly the winter mood reading I have been eating up in this dreary start to 2024, here in the wet and woolly north of England. I read a tagline that said this was for fans of Belladonna and Gallant and, while I know that they are popular, so get the marketing angle, I don't think that really does justice to Where the Dark Stands Still because this is a different kind of story with more depth and, I think, atmosphere than those two books, though Gallant did pretty well for atmosphere.

Instead of Belladonna and Gallant, check out the other reviews which reference Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Beauty and the Beast, the Winternight Trilogy, and For the Wolf, and and that's the kind of vibe and blend of story elements that Where the Dark Stands Still reminded me of - a young girl, bargaining for her life and her wish to be free of the magic that curses her to be an outcast among her own people, pledges to remain a year serving the Leszy in his (sentient) creepy manor house.

I read another review that called this dark cottagecore, which I haven't come across as an aesthetic before but that's just it! Kind of creepy, but with the kind of cosy familiarity that Slavic and northern European folklore tales and vibes have for me personally as a north-western European reader, forged by Grimm and Anderson and Baba Yaga.

Loved it!

3.5

I enjoyed this tale and I thought the writing was pretty good. I know it’s based off folklore but I did find the characters lacked some depth and the romance again felt a little surface level.

It was however entertaining and I would recommend for anyone who likes a beauty and the beast esque tale.

I would say, let's start from the reason this book doesn't have a full five stars. That reason is the ending.
In hindsight, after the few days I took to calm myself down, I think it might not be the perfect way to end it, but the way it might need to be ended. Still, I didn't quite like it and wanted to throw my phone across the room and out of a closed window, but at least it wasn't the worst of all outcomes, one that I actually feared at one point. I'm honestly glad it wasn't that, but that still doesn't mean I don't want more, that I don't need more. Because I do, and I could very well pray on my knees, I don't even care.
So now, let's move on to the book.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Listen.
LISTEN!!!
Polish folklore? Check.
Amazing world building AND word building? Check and check.
Fantastic cast of characters? Heck check.
All. The. Feels? Hell to the bells yes.
Really, I went into this book blind and came out obsessed. This is what a good book does to you. And there's very little to be said, because I can go all mushy feels all over the main characters and their story, and it wouldn't be enough, because this book deserves to be experienced first hand.
There's growth in this book, it's actually one of those rare books that both character and plot driven at the same time. You have Lisa, who is kinda like an early-on Alina Starkov meets Sophie and a Leszy who is your Howl meets a young Aleksander, I'd say, when there was both thirst for power but also a need to protect. It's not a mix, both are very much their own characters, that's just the closest I can get to describe them without spoilers.
Both grow, both have secrets and both are alone in the world, lonely, too, and their story is one that would make the perfect ballad.
(Possibly, with one extra epilogue, thank you very much.)

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book. From the blurb, it sounded intriguing and had all the elements I tend to enjoy in a fantasy novel, but may not always love. However, this book had a magical combination of those elements that just worked for me.

This is also a book that you want to go into blind, do not look at any reviews or even read much of a blurb before you go into this! All you need to know is that the story follows Liska, a seventeen-year-old girl with magical powers that have destroyed her past. She embarks on a treacherous journey into the dangerous forest near her hometown in search of a flower that grants wishes. Her wish is to remove her magic. In the forest, she encounters the Leszy, a demon who makes her a deal: if she becomes his servant for a year, he will remove her powers.

The world in which the story is set is filled with rich folklore and magic, and the spirits and demons within the story are unique and captivating (could be based on Polish folklore). The pace of the story is well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout. The writing style, although it took me a few chapters to get used to, is descriptive and well-suited to the gothic, fairytale aspects of the story.

Liska was an incredible main character. Bubbly, and friendly, but with a dark past, it was easy to enjoy reading from her perspective and gratifying to watch her grow and become more confident. The Leszy too was a fascinating character and I found myself drawn to his story and his motivations. The mystery elements behind both characters kept me intrigued and wanting to know more.

The relationship within the story took me a while to warm to, however, I loved it by the end. Additionally, the found family elements of the story made it all the more heartwarming, and I was rooting for all the characters.

The writing style took me a few chapters to get used to, as is usually the case for me when starting a new book. But by the end, I found it well-written, descriptive and felt it suited the gothic, fairytale aspects of the story. The only downside was some of the chapters were quite long, but the story was so engaging that it was never really an annoyance.

Overall, I loved this book. It is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy and fairytales. It is a well-crafted and engaging story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

If you want to read a wonderful book this year brimming with Polish folklore, found family and beautiful, charming characters you MUST add this to your list!!

The comparisons have already been made but the plot and vibes are so much like a Ghibli movie and the Leszy is so Howl-coded that I visualised the entire novel like an animated movie and it made me so giddy with joy! It's like a delightful mix of Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and Beauty and the Beast.

The found family and introduction to so many creatures are the best parts of this story. Liska bringing together such a funny little group of misfits was so heart warming, I could read about their interactions for days.
And the themes of healing from trauma was done so well.

I must add that there's a lot of similarity between Polish and Irish folklore and I felt right at home in this world.

I loved this alot - such a well rounded story full of love and magic.

THIS.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book saved me from a book hangover after reading the OUABH trilogy in 2 days....and then subsequently has now put me in a book hangover now that I've finished it. But hey, if you still have a hole in your heart after "A Curse for True Love", WTDSS will fill it...and then become your next obsession.

This story is almost seductive with how it draws you in. It's like the Driada is trying to lure you into its clutches. Liska is such a strong character that brings love to everyone she meets. Even the sullen Leszy. Their banter and quips are hilarious and break the tense atmosphere the author builds in the background. I have so many favourite lines and quotes.

It has the cutest found family trope and the trope where one of them is injured so the other has to take care of them 😭❤️ I loved learning about the Polish lore and how the author incorporates Polish words into the story. The culture and setting feels very authentic.

The ending nearly broke me though. Just a small warning....

A beautiful folklore dark fairytale, Where The Dark Stands Still is a truly enchanting take. The author skillfully weaves together magic and gothic in a sweeping fantasy.

Liska is a villager of Stodola who possesses magic. She had always had to hide it as her people shun magic and consider it evil. She doesn't want to live in hiding anymore—there must be a way to lose her magic! So Liska goes to the Driada, the magical forest where spirits and demons live. Here she hopes to find a magical flower that will banish her magic, but instead she bumps into the Leszy, the demon guarding the Driada. To survive Liska makes a pact with the Leszy, but the demon is hiding dark secrets which will impact Liska's future.

I debated many times giving up this book. I wasn't enjoying it until I reached the halfway point, where things started to happen and finally make sense. I found Liska's too naive and impulsive, while the Lesly turned from a monster to a victim. I couldn't see the sparks between them, and the ending is quite bittersweet.

What I appreciated about this story was the Polish folklore, which is not common in young adult fiction.

"She wants to cut his throat. She wants to kiss him. But most of all, she wants him to feel how she feels, if only for a moment."

Liska Radost knows her magic is bad. After all, it's hurt other people and she's had to hide her secret from her religious village, in case her neighbours brand her a witch.

So, one night she flees into the nearby magical forest. There, she makes a bargain with a powerful demon, the Leszy: one year of servitude in exchange for her wish, to remove her magic completely. But first, he wants her to learn to use it.

The Leszy has many secrets, though. There is his manor, which Liska is sure could be a living thing. There is the hound that keeps warning her to leave. And the secret library, where she finds a letter, one that begins to lay bare the Leszy's dark past.

As Liska learns more about controlling her magic, she starts to change the world around her, breathing life into the manor and its surrounds, enchanting even the arrogant and aloof Leszy. But the past has a way of catching up to even the most powerful.

Steeped in Polish folklore, 'Where the Dark Stands Still' bewitched me. I loved the mythology about different spirits, demons and old gods. The Leszy is a dark, brooding creature you can't help but be intrigued by. Liska shows great character development: from a simpering village girl into someone powerful and gutsy. The world-building is amazing: arcane and mysterious. The pace felt a little slow in the first half of the book but picked up as Liska grows into her powers.

A charming fantasy.

Liska has grown up in a small village where magic brands you a witch, so when an accident happens with her hidden magic, she leaves her village in an attempt to hunt down a way to get rid of it.

Little does she know what she will find in the woods, and entering a bargain with the Demon Warden of the woods, the Leszy, wasn't what she expected at all. But if he can help rid her of her magic, what's in a year

However, the Leszys Manor holds darks secrets over his 700 year stay and Liska must uncover these and survive the year to get her wish.... but at what cost...

Listen. The hold this book had on me. I loved it so much and will now be recommending it to anyone who will listen. Steeped in Polsh folklore with Howls Moving Castle, Beauty and the Beast and gothic vibes that put me in mind of Bitterthorn... I just can't!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the review copy... out Thursday 29 February in the UK and out in the US today I believe.... why are you still reading this... go order now!

4.5/5 Stars - rounded up because I started crying right when the epilogue started.

Look, I went into this thinking it would be a nice folklore-y gothic romance story. And what did I get? A Polish gothic fairytale that talks about guilt, sacrifices, loss, and what it means to give yourself up. AND I got an amazing romance even though there is a 700 year age difference. For the sake of Fantasy romance, I decided to ignore this and let's just say this story made it more believable than a lot of other Fantasy romance I have stumbled upon in the past.

The reason why this book had me tearing up was the raw nature with which the narration described all these terrible feelings of guilt and loss. The role of women also plays a big part in the narration, and it is handled beautifully. Liska, our protagonist, is fiercely protective and caring, yet is so much more than the simple "doting wife/mother". The end of the book was perfect for that and, even though it was bittersweet and hurt like hell to read, it was exactly what this story needed.

Please do pick this one up, even if you're only curious about the Polish folklore. It's worth it.

Where the dark stands still is a slavic mythology fantasy. While I enjoyed some aspects and the idea is interesting, I just never got fully invested in any of the characters or anything going on. That's why I've rated this 3 stars because while it has a great atmospheric setting, I just wasn't really excited about anything happening. The enjoyable moments were between Lisa and Leszy and their romance and the setting of the woods.

That's not to say this wouldn't be fun for other readers who would enjoy the magic system. I'd say it's similar in writing style, plot and vibes to A Sorcery of Thorns and Before the Devil Knows You're Here.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I completely adored this debut gothic YA fantasy from A.B. Poranek. This book has been on my radar for awhile and I felt so grateful to be granted access to an early copy in exchange for a review. This book was stunningly written, I loved the prose and some of the descriptions were so lush I felt like I was in this magical, demon forest along with our protagonist, Liska.

The world was immersive, the magic was interesting, and the story was as heartbreaking as it was heartwarming. Loved the question it raises- good people can do monstrous things, but does that make them evil?

The story proceeds quickly and briskly, without moments of boredom or heaviness, taking its time to develop events. I loved the way the more sinister moments alternate with the more cozy ones, creating a perfect balance! Yes, there are some more sinister scenes in the story, but I admit I still felt cuddled while reading, held in a warm embrace. Each chapter has its own title and I enjoyed this so much.

I absolutely adored the relationship between Liska and the Leszy and how their bond evolved throughout the story. Liska was a fantastic FMC, tough, ready to work for what she wants yet maintaining a kindheartedness. It was remarkable watching her heal her relationship with magic and grow beyond the constraints of her village. Lesky is everything you want from a fantasy love interest—a angst-ridden boy with a cantankerous personality that hides a gentle heart. I just love a tortured MMC that looks so unsympathetic from the outside but hides so much inside. Liska and Lesky’s relationship was adorable and heart-wrenching. The way they wanted to hate each other but couldn't help caring about the other was perfect.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of the Winternight Trilogy, a series I love, but with a stronger romance. And the romance was delicious. I loved the way the author built up the relationship between the Leszy and Liska. It didn’t feel rushed like a lot of books these days seem to do.

I really liked the world a lot. A world where there’s a shapeshifting house spirit waiting for you when you get home who will treat you kindly if you give it a little bread and honey. Jaga was definitely one of my favourite characters, but I loved how everyone in this book was something different. No one was quite human.

And the ending was perfect. It’s hard to end a book, especially a standalone, which I think this is. But this was just perfection. The last line especially.

Thank you to Penguin, A.B Poranek and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Where the Dark Stands Still.

Where the Dark Stands Still was a story concept that was both as unique as it tropes was right up my street, however what came from it was a beautiful Beauty and the Beast-esque story with a Slavic mythology inspiration that felt in parts magical without straying from it's Dark Fantasy path.

Lisa is a troubled main character who is able to use magic despite it considered as a sin by her village peers. In desperate need to remove it once and for all, she goes to the Driada, a spirit forest that is said that anyone who goes in never returns, in the search of a rare flower that could grant a single wish. However, the forest is protected by the Leszy, a warden that starts off as a cold and cynical being under his enchanting features. As the novel proceeds, you see how both characters become stronger together.

The banter between the characters, both main and supporting, is witty and enjoyable, and brings some needed humour to bring life into the characters, which I believe is one of the stronger points of the novel.

The last number of chapters can come off as cheesy, but I definitely smell a potential sequel that I'd absolutely love to read.

But above all else, the work that Poranek poured into this novel and the emotion it brings is far from the quality of an expected first time publishing author, and as far as things go, I can tell that as an author, Pornek will go far with her writing skill.

A good romantic fantasy with a Slavish background and gothic vibes. Excellent world building, good storytelling and character development
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine