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

Wow just wow, I couldnt put this down! It was magical and dark, filled with mythical creatures and bargains with dire consequences,

My heart absolutely breaks for the ending, but it came full circle as though it was meant to be.

I was sold on this book as soon as I saw it compare to howls moving castle. I’m after reading I can definitely see the comparison. But I’m a much more gothic, haunting forest setting. Beautifully written and I loved the slowness of the romance building from fear/hate to true love. The ended was just… I don’t want to spoil it. Bitter sweet maybe.
I would love to read more from this author in the future!

A story that gently pulled me in with its basis in European folklore and delicious shades of Beauty and the Beast. Fear not there’s no singing teapots and chipped cups here though as the author takes both her readers and indeed her characters on a journey. Liska is desperate to be what she thinks is normal and makes a deal with the Lesky to serve him for one year but whilst living in his home she makes all kinds of wondrous discoveries not least that whilst the Lesky has a wooden heart it’s one that still beats nevertheless !
This was quite a slow build up in many ways but it meant we got to know and understand these fabulous characters. For most of the tale it’s primarily three characters who we read about but I think the author saved the best for last as younger (? well maybe not! ) participants join the household. This is a romance yes but it’s also a story of prejudice and rising above it to accept just who you are. I loved it so much I actually went back to read the final few chapters again and put it down finally with hope in my old romantic heart.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Think of a book that evokes the dark gothic aspects of Beauty and the Beast, the forest from Red Riding Hood, the strange peculiarities of Alice in Wonderland, the fairytale whimsy of Howl’s Moving Castle and the lush, magical out of Belladonna. Now add to this Polish/Slavic myths, magic and legends and you have an inkling about Where the Dark Stands Still.

This book brings to life all that is myth, magic and monstrous from the perspective of Liska Radost, a young woman raised in a small village near the dark spirit-woods who has been taught to hide her magic, that it’s something to fear and be ashamed of, that she will be ostracised by her community for.

After a terrible event Liska feels she has no choice but to go to the woods and beg help to rid herself of this magic but, in doing so is trapped into a bargain with the Demon Warden of the Woods, the Leszy. He will free her from her magic if she becomes his servant for a year. Thus begins this truly beautiful, slow burn, mystery laced, dark, gothic magical story that will stay with you.

Poranek delivers a wonderfully crafted world that is imbued with magic, mystery and so many elements of Polish folklore that is truly entrancing. This is complimented by a quite simple but effective magic system and a beautifully crafted arc for the protagonist Liska.

I was blown away by the flow of this story, it’s not fast or rapid by any means, the acceleration is very gradual but, it doesn’t need to be. It’s pace develops the anticipation and atmosphere that compliment the story until its finale that truly hit me in the heart.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Loved the gothic elements of this story, and enjoyed the romance too. It’s definitely a book I’ll reread, and recommend to friends. Certainly worth reading if you’re looking for a gothicesque story.

𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒶𝓇 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁, 𝐿𝒾𝓈𝓀𝒶 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝑒𝓈𝓏𝓎, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝓌𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑔𝓇𝒾𝑒𝒻

Review: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Release date: 29th Feb 2024

- ya fantasy with romance
- magical wood
- found family
- Slavic mythology
- secrets and mysteries

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for this e-arc!

How to put on words what I felt about this book? I utterly adored it. The writing is incredible, the characters are absolutely amazing, and the plot was so well balanced with the romance. Overall, this is a beautiful ya book that will really stay with me.

•••
Liska has hid her magic away from her small village due to its catastrophic effect and blasphemous nature. She decides to search for a flower that will let her wish her magic away in the spirit-wood, where Liska meets the infamous warden of the wood. Desperate to be magic free, Liska makes a deal with him; the flower in exchange for one year of her servitude.

Liska was such a well balanced character; I loved her mindset and her strength. We really see her growth throughout this book, and I completely loved how much her kindness was appreciated and not presented as weakness. Liska will definitely stay with me as a beautifully written protagonist.

The Leszy was such an amazing character. He’s so full of personality, and I loved peeling back the layers to fully understand him. There’s so much more to him than just the benevolent demon of the woods, and I throughly enjoyed his relationship with Liska. Together they really balanced each other out, and were so gentle and soft. Their romance was mixed perfectly with the plot so that neither overshadowed the other.

I’d easily read another hundred books written by Poranek. This was so beautifully written, especially the atmospheric prose. I really felt like I was stepping into this world with Liska. I particularly loved the narrative surrounding the Church’s demonisation of magic. As someone who studies the history of witchcraft, this was incredibly done and I really felt the conflict within Liska when she thought about her faith.

I absolutely loved this book, and was heartbroken when it was over. I think this is a brilliant example of how to write a ya standalone fantasy, and I’m already thinking about rereading it.

A beautifully atmospheric story. Deliciously gothic and rich with folklore. This is a brilliant debut full of beautiful prose. I did not want to put this down. Equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Steeped in Polish Folklore, this story is an enchanting, rich romantic fantasy, absolutely perfect for fans of stories such as Howl's Moving Castle and Divine Rivals amd authors like Stephanie Garber. Magical forests that are as dark and sinister as they are beautiful and enchanting, sentient manors and a beautiful romance. What more can you ask for?

The writing throughout this story is nothing short of beautiful, and if you were unaware that this was a debut novel, you would be hard pressed not to believe this story was written by a well established author. A. B. Poranek writes in such a way that you are enchanted and bewitched from the get-go. The story draws you into a magical world of magic, folklore, and sentient manors.

I loved the relationship between the MMC and FMC. Their banter had me laughing out loud. The romance was perfection, and it also left me grabbing for the tissues during the more heart-wrenching scenes. I have tended to stray away from YA in more recent times, but I found myself absolutely enthralled by this book. The world building was fantastic. The character depth and level of connection you developed with the characters was nothing short of perfection. The ending is absolutely devastating but also fantastic. This story was nothing short of a masterpiece, and I very much look forward to reading more from this author.

Highly recommend this read.

"Where the Dark Stands Still" is a ya fantasy novel, with gothic overtones, written by A.B. Poranek, here at her debut.

A dark, haunted forest. A crumbling, semi-sentient mansion. A cat that is not quite a cat. A grumpy and tormented demon. A girl plagued by a power she wants to get rid of. And a lot of Polish folklore. These are just some of the elements that make up "Where the Dark Stands Still," a spellbinding, engaging and enchanting novel that bewitched me from the very premise. I love stories that tap into the folklore of any country and I adore books set in eerie and ominous forests, so I threw myself with high expectations on this title! And I was not disappointed at all! "Where the Dark Stands Still" is a magnificent debut that has me extremely passionate and moved! During the reading I smiled, laughed, freaked out and cried several times, totally absorbed in the events narrated. Basically, this book has everything I love: extremely evocative and lyrical prose, a dark and highly atmospheric setting, an intriguing and touching story, and complex, tormented and beautifully portrayed characters. To this mixture of ingredients are then added a slow burn romance really slooow that made me swoon so much and a found family that made me melt for its sweetness. Seriously, I can express nothing but kudos for this magnificent gothic fairytale!

The story takes place between the small village of Stodoła, located near the dark Driada and in the Driada itself. What can I say? I deeply loved this setting! Stodoła is a closed-minded and narrow-minded village, as lovely on the surface as it is oppressive just below the surface, torn between old pagan traditions and the Church. Magic is considered evil and dangerous by its inhabitants, and anyone even suspected of having it ends up isolated, insulted, accused, and sometimes exiled. The Driada, on the other hand, is a spirit-wood, consisting of huge, dark and dense trees, inhabited by brutal and cruel creatures and dominated by the Leszy, the warden demon of the forest. To enter the Driada one must pay tribute to the Leszy, but those who enter the woods do not always leave. Yes, I know I'm repeating myself, but I found everything wonderful! I was fascinated by the vivid descriptions of the environments, the enormous amount of Polish folklore, and the dark and at the same time magical atmosphere. The only criticism I can offer, if criticism it can be called, is the lack of a glossary on the specific terms of Polish folklore, for those who are not experts in that regard.

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.

Liska, protagonist with her only third person pov, won me over! Liska is a girl gifted with magic, able to see things that others cannot. Growing up in a village that considers magic monstrous, from childhood she was forced to conceal her abilities to protect herself, imposing on herself not to use them. Viewed with suspicion by villagers, isolated and heavily insulted, she learned to blend in among the people, trying to look like everyone else so as to avoid attracting attention. Influenced by the general mentality, Liska has learned to fear and hate her magic, seeing it as something evil, and after a tragic accident, she decides to travel to the dangerous Driada to search for a mythical fern flower that can grant a single wish, so as to banish her power. Liska is a complex and tormented girl, portrayed in a fantastic way! She is a sweet, kind, caring and determined person, marked by numerous fears, insecurities and guilty feelings. Liska is alone and abandoned to herself, but slowly, during her stay in the Driada, she finds a group of people to bond with and begins a journey of self-discovery, of her abilities. As I mentioned above, the found family in this book is touching, tender, and I was moved a lot in reading it!

The Leszy, the spirit-wood warden demon, is another character who won me over! Outwardly grumpy, reserved and cold, he actually hides a soul full of torments and regrets. I loved this mysterious character right away and swooned so much over him! The romance that develops between him and Liska then is wonderful! A very sloooow burn that made me sweat too much, also because they don't cooperate and are perpetually thwarted! I also liked the other secondary characters a lot!

All in all, "Where the Dark Stands Still" is a magnificent debut and I can't wait to read more by the author!

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

If you love books that have a mix of fantasy with folklore, then Where the Dark Stands Still is a mustread. A YA fantasy that will suck you into it's word and leave you wanting more. This was well-written and such a magical story.

I really enjoyed this magical book! I love the Polish folklore inspiration and gothic elements this book had. The characters quickly became new favorites that I don’t want to let go! I can’t wait to read more books from this author in the future!

3.5 Stars
This is a gothic fantasy story based on Slavic folklore.
This book is perfect for those who enjoyed ACOTAR and the Shadow and Bone series - there were elements of this book that reminded me of both! There were also elements that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and Beauty and the Beast.
The magic system was really good, although in parts it was a little vague.
This also has a slow-burn romance element to it - and one that, for me, was a little unsatisfactory - but no spoilers.
Overall, I had fun reading this - it was extremely engaging but I do think there are other books that have done the "Gothic fairytale based on folklore" genre much better.
This is a wonderful debut!

Where the Dark Stands Still is a truly enchanting Polish inspired, gothical "Beauty and the Beast" read that tells the story of Liska, who makes a bargain with the demon warden of the wood, the Leszy, to be free of her magical powers. The bargain involves one year of servitude. She soon discovers that other people have made the same bargain and have mysteriously disappeared…. A captivating and enchanting book, recommended for lovers of the dark and creepy fairytale read.

So I really enjoyed the story Poranek told here. It felt very close to a more classic style of fairytale but based in Polish lore which made it feel unique to me as a UK reader. I think the story telling was beautiful and had a very gothic feel to it so perfect for readers who enjoy that!

Personally, I found the book a little too slow paced for me and the elements that were reminiscent of a beauty and the beast story weren’t my favourite (I’m never really a fan of this as a retelling). I also felt the fmc took far too long to reveal her backstory to the reader so I found it hard to understand her motivations at times.

Overall though was a lovely lil read and would recommend to YA audience.

WHERE THE DATK STANDS STILL is a fantasy novel based on Polish mythology, as an old bargain bares its teeth.

This book toes the fantasy/horror border at times, with a dangerous wood, plants inside people, and all manner of monsters. It can turn very creepy at times, the woods both a place of fun and power and a place of deadly hatred. It was a nice mix of magic and horror to add atmosphere to the book and drove home the threat of the old god.

Some of the creatures in the book, like the rusalka, were familiar to me. But others were not and I enjoyed learning more about the mythology. The book brings out the wonder and the danger in them - the wood and Marisko being great examples of this.

There is a found family at the heart of this book as Liska transforms the manor and brings people together. I loved seeing her heal as these gruff, secretive people opened up to her, coming together in affection - I like the suspicion and hatred of her home village and mother.

In all, it is a strong debut, creating an atmosphere that drags you in.

‘The wood must always have a warden.’

I for one haven’t read many folklore stories, but this book certainly got my attention and opened up another genre avenue to explore.

A.B Poranek made me fall in love with the Leszy, he wasn’t so friendly to start off but you get to see past his shields. The FMC Liska is so brave and clever and I liked that about her. I loved Jaga and Maksio also.

I definitely found that the last half was at faster pace, I couldn’t stop reading.

I cried many tears, I do wish the ending was slightly different but all in all this isn’t a book you want to miss.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for the arc!

Slavic folklore in a Polish setting is always irresistible. All these demons, villagers, and, most importantly, the nature. Add to it magic and rituals and you´d have a solid base for everyone's favourite fantasy story.
When Liska runs into the woods at Kupalas´Night she gets herself entangled into somebody else's business. She meets Leszy, who is a very powerful demon, but also a protector of people. She strikes what seems like a perfect deal - she´ll get rid of her magic, which has brought her nothing but trouble, under the condition of serving Leszy for a year. Surely cleaning and cooking isn´t that hard, right? Right.Unless...
There´s magic, power, secrets, a dark past and a romance.
The story overall is ok and I´m sure a lot of people will enjoy it. The only issue I have with book is that the author threw in some Polish words without translating them into English, which I´m sure many readers would appreciate. Not everybody understands words such as "babcia" and "dziadek", not to mention "strój" or "kiełbasa". Thank you for using special letters, this is very rare in foreign publications and that´s why we appreciate it even more.
Also, the main character's name Liska doesn´t sound entirely right to me. Lis means a fox. The suffix -a or -ka suggests a female, yet Liska is somehow an artificially made up name. I would use Lisiczka - which is a diminutive for a female fox. It also has a positive connotation with a hint of affection. Cute like.
Overall it´s a nice story and I´m happy to see so many people interested in Slavic mythology.

A beautifully written and whimsically dark read, draped in gothic vibes and polish folklore.

Perfect for fans of YA romantasy looking for a lyrically written book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children's, Penguin for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review*

This is an beautifully written debut novel by A. B. Poranek. Weaved in Polish folklore, Where the Dark Stands Still won't disappoint you. Although I hope there's a book #2 because the ending felt a little rushed. Other than that it was a wonderful book.