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This Dark Descent #1
This Dark Descent
Called a "fierce and darkly magical thrill ride" by acclaimed author Ava Reid, New York Times bestselling Kalyn Josephson delivers a spellbinding fantasy full of intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of The Shadows Between Us and The Scorpio Races.
Every ten years, the citizens of Veradell gather for the Illinir, a treacherous horse race famous for its alluring prize money and high body count. Tough-as-nails Mikira Rusel, the last in a line of renowned horse breeders, is desperate to win this year's race at any cost. But to make it to the track, she'll need to gather new friends and escape the crosshairs of old foes . . .
A beautiful rogue enchanter with a hidden past just beginning to come into her true power.
A dashing and ambitious young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle.
A brilliant, prickly loner loyal only to his friends, and his loveable but mysterious pet cat.
A ruthless aristocrat determined to protect his family's prestige -- and unrivaled power.
Each one has their own vengeful secrets to protect and reasons to help -- or hinder -- Mikira's odds of winning the Illinir. And in a world as dangerous as this, who among them will be left standing at the finish line?
Every ten years, the citizens of Veradell gather for the Illinir, a treacherous horse race famous for its alluring prize money and high body count. Tough-as-nails Mikira Rusel, the last in a line of renowned horse breeders, is desperate to win this year's race at any cost. But to make it to the track, she'll need to gather new friends and escape the crosshairs of old foes . . .
A beautiful rogue enchanter with a hidden past just beginning to come into her true power.
A dashing and ambitious young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle.
A brilliant, prickly loner loyal only to his friends, and his loveable but mysterious pet cat.
A ruthless aristocrat determined to protect his family's prestige -- and unrivaled power.
Each one has their own vengeful secrets to protect and reasons to help -- or hinder -- Mikira's odds of winning the Illinir. And in a world as dangerous as this, who among them will be left standing at the finish line?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
About the author
Kalyn Josephson
7 books860 followersKalyn Josephson is the NYT bestselling author of THE STORM CROW duology, RAVENFALL series, and upcoming THIS DARK DESCENT. By day, she's a Technical Writer, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She lives in the Bay Area with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 496 reviews
October 10, 2023
Couldn't connect with the characters or story.
This is the second novel I have read by this author, and while I enjoyed The Storm Crow, this one felt underwhelming. I appreciated the unique concept. However, the story lacked depth and character development, making the story less immersive.
Even though this didn't work for me, this novel may be for you if you enjoy horse races and magic.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kalyn Josephson, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
This is the second novel I have read by this author, and while I enjoyed The Storm Crow, this one felt underwhelming. I appreciated the unique concept. However, the story lacked depth and character development, making the story less immersive.
Even though this didn't work for me, this novel may be for you if you enjoy horse races and magic.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kalyn Josephson, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
February 11, 2024
rating: 3.75
i generally enjoyed this. the jewish mythology inspiration and horse races definitely appealed to me, and i liked both FMCs. i love a good competition plot and the dangerous horse races were written to be very exciting and intriguing!
there is a good start to that found family trope, but i wish there could've been more development between the group outside of the races. it was cool to see an aroace MC as well as bi rep.
i'm interested in seeing where the author will take book 2!
________________________________
jewish queer magical horse girl?!?!?!
THIS IS EVERYTHING I NEED
i generally enjoyed this. the jewish mythology inspiration and horse races definitely appealed to me, and i liked both FMCs. i love a good competition plot and the dangerous horse races were written to be very exciting and intriguing!
there is a good start to that found family trope, but i wish there could've been more development between the group outside of the races. it was cool to see an aroace MC as well as bi rep.
i'm interested in seeing where the author will take book 2!
________________________________
jewish queer magical horse girl?!?!?!
THIS IS EVERYTHING I NEED
Read
August 28, 2023This Dark Descent is a wonderful YA Fantasy novel, and I had a fantastic time reading it: compelling from the first page, I flew through this exciting tale of dangerous bets and challenges, secrets and betrayals.
Why you should preorder it already:
✨ for the exciting premise: a deadly competition woven with enchantments and danger; the fight against class inequalities, religious discrimination and war; the friends we find in unlikely places, and more;
✨ for the perfect pacing: it’s fun and compelling without ever getting boring BUT without neglecting emotional moments (which is why I often can't love books that move at brakeless speed: I need slower moments to allow an emotional connection to the characters to develop, and This Dark Descent delivered);
✨ for the characters: LISTEN, I’m so in love with them, okay??
-First you’ve got Mikira, our impulsive but immensely likeable horse rider who’ll stop at nothing to save her family;
-then Arielle, who’s always wanted to be an enchanter but what if she loses herself to the darkness in the process?
-What can I say about Reid, our grumpy emo-boy, except that he’ll bark at you but *will* make you tea every day and patch you up, that he hates dirt, loves animals (WIDGET!!! VERY GOOD CAT) and BLUSHES (I love him ok)
-Finally: Damian, the mysterious young noble who gives hope to Mikira and Arielle but whose motivations are murky—should they trust him? Only the future will tell 👀
✨ for the friendships!!!!! I especially loved Mikira and Arielle getting closer 🖤
✨ for the LGBTQIA+ rep: Mikira is bisexual, Arielle is demiromantic; this is very much a queernorm world;
✨ for the fascinating enchantment-based magic system infused with Jewish folklore (including golems) : I can’t wait to dive into it more in the sequel;
✨ for the animal companions, obviously!!
The ending had me on the edge of my seat and to say I CANNOT WAIT to read the sequel would be an understatement. I need more from this world, more from these characters, and I’m convinced many of you will feel the same. Highly recommended.
cw:
Why you should preorder it already:
✨ for the exciting premise: a deadly competition woven with enchantments and danger; the fight against class inequalities, religious discrimination and war; the friends we find in unlikely places, and more;
✨ for the perfect pacing: it’s fun and compelling without ever getting boring BUT without neglecting emotional moments (which is why I often can't love books that move at brakeless speed: I need slower moments to allow an emotional connection to the characters to develop, and This Dark Descent delivered);
✨ for the characters: LISTEN, I’m so in love with them, okay??
-First you’ve got Mikira, our impulsive but immensely likeable horse rider who’ll stop at nothing to save her family;
-then Arielle, who’s always wanted to be an enchanter but what if she loses herself to the darkness in the process?
-What can I say about Reid, our grumpy emo-boy, except that he’ll bark at you but *will* make you tea every day and patch you up, that he hates dirt, loves animals (WIDGET!!! VERY GOOD CAT) and BLUSHES (I love him ok)
-Finally: Damian, the mysterious young noble who gives hope to Mikira and Arielle but whose motivations are murky—should they trust him? Only the future will tell 👀
✨ for the friendships!!!!! I especially loved Mikira and Arielle getting closer 🖤
✨ for the LGBTQIA+ rep: Mikira is bisexual, Arielle is demiromantic; this is very much a queernorm world;
✨ for the fascinating enchantment-based magic system infused with Jewish folklore (including golems) : I can’t wait to dive into it more in the sequel;
✨ for the animal companions, obviously!!
The ending had me on the edge of my seat and to say I CANNOT WAIT to read the sequel would be an understatement. I need more from this world, more from these characters, and I’m convinced many of you will feel the same. Highly recommended.
cw:
October 21, 2023
Author describes it as "jewish mobster mariokart" and says "Think PEAKY BLINDERS x SCORPIO RACES with:
- angry girls taking back power
- an aroace MC
- jewish mythology
- sciencey magic
- friends to enemies to lovers"
SIGN ME UP
Now that I've read it, and realized it's a duology, not all of those promises have held true yet. The description of jewish mobster mariokart definitely holds true though and it's glorious. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading a book that featured horses somewhat centrally, though, as always, I would have liked even more of them, with more equestian details. But alas, I also understand that such things wouldn't appeal to the masses, and might end up quite dry in a book like this.
I liked the two main characters, Ari and Mikira, as well as the two main side characters, Damien and Reid. That said, I struggled with identifying Reid's place in the story.
It's definitely not a standalone, as it ends on a quite mysterious note, even as it closes the arc about the horse races. Hopefully the horses will remain pivotal in book 2, or I'll definitely be disappointed.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
- angry girls taking back power
- an aroace MC
- jewish mythology
- sciencey magic
- friends to enemies to lovers"
SIGN ME UP
Now that I've read it, and realized it's a duology, not all of those promises have held true yet. The description of jewish mobster mariokart definitely holds true though and it's glorious. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading a book that featured horses somewhat centrally, though, as always, I would have liked even more of them, with more equestian details. But alas, I also understand that such things wouldn't appeal to the masses, and might end up quite dry in a book like this.
I liked the two main characters, Ari and Mikira, as well as the two main side characters, Damien and Reid. That said, I struggled with identifying Reid's place in the story.
It's definitely not a standalone, as it ends on a quite mysterious note, even as it closes the arc about the horse races. Hopefully the horses will remain pivotal in book 2, or I'll definitely be disappointed.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 9, 2023
This Dark Descent is a Jewish-inspired high fantasy that’s pitched as The Shadows Between Us meets Six of Crows meets The Scorpio Races.
I can see the Scorpio Races comp, but the other two… not so much.
From the very first chapter, this books weaknesses were apparent—not enough development, not enough depth.
The inciting incident of this book happens during the second scene. This is the moment where Mikira makes the decision that sets the plot in motion, the moment of no return. She wagers everything she has to save her father. But because this happens so early on, it packs no emotional punch. We’ve had maybe 5 pages to get to know Mikira, and this scene is the first time we’ve seen or even heard mention of her father. There hasn’t been any development to make the reader care about Mikira or her father, so I couldn’t connect with the emotion of that scene. I wasn’t convinced by Mikira’s supposed desperation to save him. The dramatics of the moment rang hollow to me. Not to mention the fact that the bargain that Mikira makes…doesn’t make sense. She makes a deal that she objectively knows that she cannot possibly win. If she wins, she gets her father back, but if she loses, she and all her siblings are as good as dead. If she wins, yes, she’s better off, but Mikira does not think she can win.
The weak start aside, for the next 30% of the book, I was enjoying myself. The reason why this was happening still didn’t make sense, but as long as I didn’t think about that aspect, I was able to get sucked into what was happening. I enjoyed getting to learn a little about the lore and getting to meet our cast of characters. I especially enjoyed Arielle’s narration in these earlier chapters and getting to know her. I was interested in the race, the building of the golem-horse, and the plot surrounding that.
But at about 30-35%, several new plotlines were added—politics, demonic possession, romantic subplots, war/antiwar, and more. None of it was fleshed out, and none of it meshed together. We jumped from plotline to plotline, nothing really progressing on page, never diving deep into any of them. There was suddenly so much going on, in so few pages, that the story only ever brushed across the surface of these events and aspects of the worldbuilding.
It’s about this point that the romances start to kick in. I really appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation—Mikira is bi and Ari is demisexual/demiromantic. I love seeing rep like that in fantasy, and I really appreciated the inclusion of a discussion about demisexuality/demiromanticism, but the actual conversation was very dry to read. It was like reading the dictionary definition word for word.
I also found it kind of ironic how Ari was like, “now that I’m really getting to know him and connect with him emotionally, I’m starting to be able to fall for him romantically!” because my #1 complaint with the romance in this book is that we never see them interact, and when they do there’s no real depth to it. It’s emotionless. Damien says some pretty words, but they’re just words and because there’s no accompanying depth to the actual interactions, actions, descriptions of feelings, etc, it rings hollow and the words just seem manipulative. There was not a single spark of chemistry between Ari and Damien—or between Mikira and either or her love interests—but it was especially painful to read because Damien and Ari were constantly like, verbally professing their love for each other and I was so completely unconvinced.
It also drove me absolutely mad how this one character is like, so blatantly possessed and either no one cared or no one could figure it out. She’s like “There’s this voice in my head and it’s maybe influencing my thoughts and also I’m starting to lose time.” But she doesn’t like, do anything about it. And neither does the person she tells. Like, THAT FEELS PRETTY FREAKING IMPORTANT TO ME!
Honestly, by the end of this book I could not stand a single one of these characters. They were annoying and their actions and thoughts constantly contradicted themselves and just… made no sense.
The last thing I want to touch on is the worldbuilding. The book takes place in the empirical kingdom of Enderlain (or something like that), but Ari is Kinnish, and the Kinnish people are based on Jewish people. Their religion and magic (Kinnism) are based on Jewish folklore and myths. The development and representation of these people was beautiful. It was so clearly an ode to the author’s love of her religion and culture. The discussions had on this topic were phenomenal and real and had true resonance in a way that… pretty much nothing else in the book had. If everything in the book was executed to that level, it could’ve been a 5 star read. Unfortunately, I think that the level of care, development, and detail that the Kinnish aspects of worldbuilding had made the surface level, bare bones development of all the other aspects of worldbuilding and character even more obvious.
If it still interests you, give it a try, but I don’t personally recommend this book, and I won’t be continuing with the series.
I can see the Scorpio Races comp, but the other two… not so much.
From the very first chapter, this books weaknesses were apparent—not enough development, not enough depth.
The inciting incident of this book happens during the second scene. This is the moment where Mikira makes the decision that sets the plot in motion, the moment of no return. She wagers everything she has to save her father. But because this happens so early on, it packs no emotional punch. We’ve had maybe 5 pages to get to know Mikira, and this scene is the first time we’ve seen or even heard mention of her father. There hasn’t been any development to make the reader care about Mikira or her father, so I couldn’t connect with the emotion of that scene. I wasn’t convinced by Mikira’s supposed desperation to save him. The dramatics of the moment rang hollow to me. Not to mention the fact that the bargain that Mikira makes…doesn’t make sense. She makes a deal that she objectively knows that she cannot possibly win. If she wins, she gets her father back, but if she loses, she and all her siblings are as good as dead. If she wins, yes, she’s better off, but Mikira does not think she can win.
The weak start aside, for the next 30% of the book, I was enjoying myself. The reason why this was happening still didn’t make sense, but as long as I didn’t think about that aspect, I was able to get sucked into what was happening. I enjoyed getting to learn a little about the lore and getting to meet our cast of characters. I especially enjoyed Arielle’s narration in these earlier chapters and getting to know her. I was interested in the race, the building of the golem-horse, and the plot surrounding that.
But at about 30-35%, several new plotlines were added—politics, demonic possession, romantic subplots, war/antiwar, and more. None of it was fleshed out, and none of it meshed together. We jumped from plotline to plotline, nothing really progressing on page, never diving deep into any of them. There was suddenly so much going on, in so few pages, that the story only ever brushed across the surface of these events and aspects of the worldbuilding.
It’s about this point that the romances start to kick in. I really appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation—Mikira is bi and Ari is demisexual/demiromantic. I love seeing rep like that in fantasy, and I really appreciated the inclusion of a discussion about demisexuality/demiromanticism, but the actual conversation was very dry to read. It was like reading the dictionary definition word for word.
I also found it kind of ironic how Ari was like, “now that I’m really getting to know him and connect with him emotionally, I’m starting to be able to fall for him romantically!” because my #1 complaint with the romance in this book is that we never see them interact, and when they do there’s no real depth to it. It’s emotionless. Damien says some pretty words, but they’re just words and because there’s no accompanying depth to the actual interactions, actions, descriptions of feelings, etc, it rings hollow and the words just seem manipulative. There was not a single spark of chemistry between Ari and Damien—or between Mikira and either or her love interests—but it was especially painful to read because Damien and Ari were constantly like, verbally professing their love for each other and I was so completely unconvinced.
It also drove me absolutely mad how this one character is like, so blatantly possessed and either no one cared or no one could figure it out. She’s like “There’s this voice in my head and it’s maybe influencing my thoughts and also I’m starting to lose time.” But she doesn’t like, do anything about it. And neither does the person she tells. Like, THAT FEELS PRETTY FREAKING IMPORTANT TO ME!
Honestly, by the end of this book I could not stand a single one of these characters. They were annoying and their actions and thoughts constantly contradicted themselves and just… made no sense.
The last thing I want to touch on is the worldbuilding. The book takes place in the empirical kingdom of Enderlain (or something like that), but Ari is Kinnish, and the Kinnish people are based on Jewish people. Their religion and magic (Kinnism) are based on Jewish folklore and myths. The development and representation of these people was beautiful. It was so clearly an ode to the author’s love of her religion and culture. The discussions had on this topic were phenomenal and real and had true resonance in a way that… pretty much nothing else in the book had. If everything in the book was executed to that level, it could’ve been a 5 star read. Unfortunately, I think that the level of care, development, and detail that the Kinnish aspects of worldbuilding had made the surface level, bare bones development of all the other aspects of worldbuilding and character even more obvious.
If it still interests you, give it a try, but I don’t personally recommend this book, and I won’t be continuing with the series.
February 5, 2024
2.5⭐️
Incredible idea, dull execution.
Characters are poorly fleshed-out and their motivations even less so. Paired with choppy pacing and only a few memorable action scenes, This Dark Descent relies too heavily on its beautiful Jewish and queer rep to carry the book. In the end, it's not nearly enough.
Incredible idea, dull execution.
Characters are poorly fleshed-out and their motivations even less so. Paired with choppy pacing and only a few memorable action scenes, This Dark Descent relies too heavily on its beautiful Jewish and queer rep to carry the book. In the end, it's not nearly enough.
September 14, 2023
Are you looking for a book with...
- Magical high stakes horse racing
- Peaky blinders meets the Scorpio Races
- Jewish based magic and folklore
- Dual POV diverse characters
- Dangerous secrets and unbridled power
This Dark Descent is an upper YA book that brings all the gritty atmosphere of the underbelly of a city mixed with the highlife of the upper elite. It has great morally grey characters, some even unlikable..but honestly in the best of ways that really made them all the more interesting.
This is a great book for fall and if you like horse elements in this story, then this one is for you. I love that danger was always lurking around every corner which made for a really fast paced book when everyone has something to lose. Every character is a little hell bent with something to prove which makes them interesting and when you bring them together the group dynamic is fantastic to read.
With multiple potential romances, hot headed arrogant male leads )but also softer ones), and never knowing who to trust. This Dark Descent is one to add to your TBR.
I LOVE Reid. More of him please.
"I will never tell you to not be angry. When the world has taken so much form you, sometimes anger is all you have left. But if you do nothing with it, it will consume you."
Can't wait to see where the next book takes us. 4.5 stars
- Magical high stakes horse racing
- Peaky blinders meets the Scorpio Races
- Jewish based magic and folklore
- Dual POV diverse characters
- Dangerous secrets and unbridled power
This Dark Descent is an upper YA book that brings all the gritty atmosphere of the underbelly of a city mixed with the highlife of the upper elite. It has great morally grey characters, some even unlikable..but honestly in the best of ways that really made them all the more interesting.
This is a great book for fall and if you like horse elements in this story, then this one is for you. I love that danger was always lurking around every corner which made for a really fast paced book when everyone has something to lose. Every character is a little hell bent with something to prove which makes them interesting and when you bring them together the group dynamic is fantastic to read.
With multiple potential romances, hot headed arrogant male leads )but also softer ones), and never knowing who to trust. This Dark Descent is one to add to your TBR.
I LOVE Reid. More of him please.
"I will never tell you to not be angry. When the world has taken so much form you, sometimes anger is all you have left. But if you do nothing with it, it will consume you."
Can't wait to see where the next book takes us. 4.5 stars
August 18, 2024
Alors oui... mais en vrai bof.
Il y a plein de choses cool dans ce roman, mais j'ai trouvé que tout était hyper brouillon, de la motivation des personnages aux rebondissements qui ont lieu, des relations entre eux à l'univers très riche sur lequel on nous balance sans arrêt plein d'infos. On m'avait vendu un côté un peu à la Six of Crows avec des personnages que tout oppose qui doivent s'allier pour tenter un gros coup, mais on est quand même loin du compte et je pense que là où ça a vraiment pêché, c'est que j'ai eu beaucoup de mal à m'attacher aux personnages. Ils avaient du potentiel, mais comme tout le reste, j'ai été un peu détachée par rapport à tout ce qu'il se passait / qui leur arrivait. J'avoue que j'ai lu certains passages en mode lecture rapide pour arriver plus vite à la fin et au dénouement. Il s'avère qu'il y a des pointes d'action et pas mal de rebondissements, mais ça retombe quand même comme un soufflé...
BREF, un roman prometteur, un univers original et pas mal d'action, ok, mais j'ai eu du mal à accrocher à ce roman, malheureusement... :(
Il y a plein de choses cool dans ce roman, mais j'ai trouvé que tout était hyper brouillon, de la motivation des personnages aux rebondissements qui ont lieu, des relations entre eux à l'univers très riche sur lequel on nous balance sans arrêt plein d'infos. On m'avait vendu un côté un peu à la Six of Crows avec des personnages que tout oppose qui doivent s'allier pour tenter un gros coup, mais on est quand même loin du compte et je pense que là où ça a vraiment pêché, c'est que j'ai eu beaucoup de mal à m'attacher aux personnages. Ils avaient du potentiel, mais comme tout le reste, j'ai été un peu détachée par rapport à tout ce qu'il se passait / qui leur arrivait. J'avoue que j'ai lu certains passages en mode lecture rapide pour arriver plus vite à la fin et au dénouement. Il s'avère qu'il y a des pointes d'action et pas mal de rebondissements, mais ça retombe quand même comme un soufflé...
BREF, un roman prometteur, un univers original et pas mal d'action, ok, mais j'ai eu du mal à accrocher à ce roman, malheureusement... :(
September 17, 2023
4.5 Stars
A brilliantly crafted, rollercoaster of a read that seamlessly blends Jewish folklore and the shady political scheming of Peaky Blinders into a page turning tale of forbidden magic, enchanted races and revenge that I didn’t want to end.
We follow the POVs of two characters: Mikira, (the daughter of a famed horse breeder) who strikes a deal to enter the Illinir —a deadly, high stakes horse race that, if she wins, could save her family from ruin. And Arielle, an unregistered enchanter who will do anything for the chance to obtain an enchanter’s licence … including help Lord Damien in getting Mikira to first place.
With blood feuds, secrets and political intrigue aplenty, Arielle and Mikira will have to decide who to trust in this deadly, cut-throat world where corruption and the power hungry elite reign supreme.
I adored Kalyn’s writing style which was quite lyrical at times with an emotionally evocative edge that brought this vividly descriptive world and its characters to life.
I really enjoyed Mikira as a character, but I admit it was her flaws that intrigued me the most. She’s frustratingly impulsive and reckless, with a cynicism that borders on confrontational, and which gets her into trouble on more than one occasion. However, her deep compassion for her family was endearingly relatable and I enjoyed watching just how far she was willing to go to protect them.
Though it was Arielle, I was emotionally invested in the most. As a refugee in a country that despises her people (and their unique, golem based magic) we witness the inner strength and determination of a young woman just trying to survive— enduring ridicule and discrimination that was utterly heartbreaking to witness (especially as it mirrored soo much of the antisemitic rhetoric that exists in our own world.)
But getting to see her explore and reconnect with her magical heritage, was soo inspiring! And though some of her decisions seemed to lead towards a less scrupulous path (influenced by Damien perhaps), I’m intrigued to see how things develop for her in the next instalment.
The rest of the cast were also really well developed (even antagonists Rezek and Loic) with just as much complexity, and depth to keep me invested. I was especially impressed with the character development of both Damien and Reid’s development (thanks to their briefly explored yet deeply emotional backstories) but, I have to say it’s Reid (with his grumpy demeanour, use of tea to solve every problem and unconditional love for his cat) that stole my heart.
The romance was amazingly swoon-worthy and the LGBTQ+ rep wonderful (particularly the AroAce /Demiromantic rep.) And slow-burn lovers will be pleased to know there is not one, but TWO fabulously tension-filled, slow-burn romances to fall head over heels for.
This is the first Kalyn Josephson book I’ve ever read, but the detailed world-building and loveably complex, multilayered characters have assured that it definitely won’t be the last.
Also, a huge thank you to BookBreak for the proof and including me on the readalong—I had an absolute blast.
A brilliantly crafted, rollercoaster of a read that seamlessly blends Jewish folklore and the shady political scheming of Peaky Blinders into a page turning tale of forbidden magic, enchanted races and revenge that I didn’t want to end.
We follow the POVs of two characters: Mikira, (the daughter of a famed horse breeder) who strikes a deal to enter the Illinir —a deadly, high stakes horse race that, if she wins, could save her family from ruin. And Arielle, an unregistered enchanter who will do anything for the chance to obtain an enchanter’s licence … including help Lord Damien in getting Mikira to first place.
With blood feuds, secrets and political intrigue aplenty, Arielle and Mikira will have to decide who to trust in this deadly, cut-throat world where corruption and the power hungry elite reign supreme.
I adored Kalyn’s writing style which was quite lyrical at times with an emotionally evocative edge that brought this vividly descriptive world and its characters to life.
I really enjoyed Mikira as a character, but I admit it was her flaws that intrigued me the most. She’s frustratingly impulsive and reckless, with a cynicism that borders on confrontational, and which gets her into trouble on more than one occasion. However, her deep compassion for her family was endearingly relatable and I enjoyed watching just how far she was willing to go to protect them.
Though it was Arielle, I was emotionally invested in the most. As a refugee in a country that despises her people (and their unique, golem based magic) we witness the inner strength and determination of a young woman just trying to survive— enduring ridicule and discrimination that was utterly heartbreaking to witness (especially as it mirrored soo much of the antisemitic rhetoric that exists in our own world.)
But getting to see her explore and reconnect with her magical heritage, was soo inspiring! And though some of her decisions seemed to lead towards a less scrupulous path (influenced by Damien perhaps), I’m intrigued to see how things develop for her in the next instalment.
The rest of the cast were also really well developed (even antagonists Rezek and Loic) with just as much complexity, and depth to keep me invested. I was especially impressed with the character development of both Damien and Reid’s development (thanks to their briefly explored yet deeply emotional backstories) but, I have to say it’s Reid (with his grumpy demeanour, use of tea to solve every problem and unconditional love for his cat) that stole my heart.
The romance was amazingly swoon-worthy and the LGBTQ+ rep wonderful (particularly the AroAce /Demiromantic rep.) And slow-burn lovers will be pleased to know there is not one, but TWO fabulously tension-filled, slow-burn romances to fall head over heels for.
This is the first Kalyn Josephson book I’ve ever read, but the detailed world-building and loveably complex, multilayered characters have assured that it definitely won’t be the last.
Also, a huge thank you to BookBreak for the proof and including me on the readalong—I had an absolute blast.
January 10, 2024
Una pena, sinceramente.
Empezó muy bien pero la forma en la que ha ido decayendo y entrando en bucle durante casi 400 páginas ha sido demasiado.
No continuaré con la saga 🫠
Empezó muy bien pero la forma en la que ha ido decayendo y entrando en bucle durante casi 400 páginas ha sido demasiado.
No continuaré con la saga 🫠
August 22, 2023
Hmmm… Lots of feels with this book! It is rich and sumptuously written. It has layers and layers yet to be explored, and it has contradictions - both complimentary and challenging.
The story is told from two female characters POV. Mikira, the daughter of a horse-breader who can imbue enchantments into the horses he raises. The kingdom they live in, however, is under the thumb of five very powerful and corrupt noble houses. When the noble house that controls Mikira’s family decide they want her family business and take her father as an indentured servant (slave) which leaves the rest of the family with nothing, Mikira makes a deal to free him - she must race in a brutal, nation-wide horse race that the nobles hold every 10 years. BUT, she must do so on a horse void of any enchantments (all the other horses have them). It’s basically a death sentence for her but it is also the only hope she has of freeing her father and saving her family.
The second POV is from a young foreigner named Arielle, whose homeland has been destroyed and who is hiding from a past too horrible to acknowledge. Arielle also holds a highly forbidden form of magic that will assuredly get her killed if the powerful houses discover.
Enter the third main character, Damien. A lord of one of the lesser, but still powerful houses, who is in a very vengeful rivalry with another, more powerful noble house. Damien finds Mikira and Arielle and offers them both a deal they can’t refuse. He will sponsor Mikira in the race and give both young women the thing they most want, IF they help him in his quest to accomplish his goals.
Thus begins an absolutely riveting tale with all the things that make an action-packed story unforgettable! There is loyalty, deceit, love, betrayal and a host of other twists and turns that wrench the heart in innumerable ways.
In fact, this book is a HUGE five star read, IF one isn’t bothered by the weird and infuriating switch in Mikira’s character near the end (obviously, I’m one that it REALLY bothered!) The author has created her character to be honest, loyal and frank. She has a bit of a temper and when there is a problem she addresses it head-on. We see that - and admire it throughout the first 2/3 of the book. Then, suddenly, her character flips a complete 180 and does exactly the opposite! Not only does she not confront the person in question (Damien) but she holds suspicious evidence for absolutely no apparent reason that I could fathom. This, of course, creates the setting for the big final twist, but it goes so far against her character that I was extremely disappointed. It just didn’t make logical sense for the character the author created in the first place.
Still, I would highly recommend giving this story a try! It is such a richly penned and intricately developed story that the experience itself is well worth the read!
The story is told from two female characters POV. Mikira, the daughter of a horse-breader who can imbue enchantments into the horses he raises. The kingdom they live in, however, is under the thumb of five very powerful and corrupt noble houses. When the noble house that controls Mikira’s family decide they want her family business and take her father as an indentured servant (slave) which leaves the rest of the family with nothing, Mikira makes a deal to free him - she must race in a brutal, nation-wide horse race that the nobles hold every 10 years. BUT, she must do so on a horse void of any enchantments (all the other horses have them). It’s basically a death sentence for her but it is also the only hope she has of freeing her father and saving her family.
The second POV is from a young foreigner named Arielle, whose homeland has been destroyed and who is hiding from a past too horrible to acknowledge. Arielle also holds a highly forbidden form of magic that will assuredly get her killed if the powerful houses discover.
Enter the third main character, Damien. A lord of one of the lesser, but still powerful houses, who is in a very vengeful rivalry with another, more powerful noble house. Damien finds Mikira and Arielle and offers them both a deal they can’t refuse. He will sponsor Mikira in the race and give both young women the thing they most want, IF they help him in his quest to accomplish his goals.
Thus begins an absolutely riveting tale with all the things that make an action-packed story unforgettable! There is loyalty, deceit, love, betrayal and a host of other twists and turns that wrench the heart in innumerable ways.
In fact, this book is a HUGE five star read, IF one isn’t bothered by the weird and infuriating switch in Mikira’s character near the end (obviously, I’m one that it REALLY bothered!) The author has created her character to be honest, loyal and frank. She has a bit of a temper and when there is a problem she addresses it head-on. We see that - and admire it throughout the first 2/3 of the book. Then, suddenly, her character flips a complete 180 and does exactly the opposite! Not only does she not confront the person in question (Damien) but she holds suspicious evidence for absolutely no apparent reason that I could fathom. This, of course, creates the setting for the big final twist, but it goes so far against her character that I was extremely disappointed. It just didn’t make logical sense for the character the author created in the first place.
Still, I would highly recommend giving this story a try! It is such a richly penned and intricately developed story that the experience itself is well worth the read!
July 16, 2024
4.5
2024 reads: 192/250
2024 tbr: 76/120
mikira rusel’s family is known for breeding enchanted horses, but their mounting debts are finally catching up to them. to save the ranch, mikira enters the illinir, a treacherous horserace. it can be deadly, but mikira must win for her family. she teams up with arielle kadar, an enchanter rising to her own power, and damien adair, a young lord who has his own stakes in the race.
adding this to my mental list of “books i put off for a while just to finally read and regret not doing so sooner.” equestrian novels don’t typically intrigue me, which is why i think i put this off for so long. however, i really enjoyed the aspect of enchanted horses and the vicious horserace. this was also inspired by jewish mythology, and i have not read nearly enough books with this aspect!
i’m looking forward to book two!
2024 reads: 192/250
2024 tbr: 76/120
mikira rusel’s family is known for breeding enchanted horses, but their mounting debts are finally catching up to them. to save the ranch, mikira enters the illinir, a treacherous horserace. it can be deadly, but mikira must win for her family. she teams up with arielle kadar, an enchanter rising to her own power, and damien adair, a young lord who has his own stakes in the race.
adding this to my mental list of “books i put off for a while just to finally read and regret not doing so sooner.” equestrian novels don’t typically intrigue me, which is why i think i put this off for so long. however, i really enjoyed the aspect of enchanted horses and the vicious horserace. this was also inspired by jewish mythology, and i have not read nearly enough books with this aspect!
i’m looking forward to book two!
January 12, 2024
My first OwlCrate purchase. Unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations of such a gamble.
There’s some decent worldbuilding here and a clear passion for that world from the author, but it’s hampered by a lack of finesse in the development and execution. Lots of intricate plot threads but they unravel in the most dull, predictable way possible. The text is riddled with plot twists and far too convenient deus ex machina moments to the point where we are racing to the end without a second to breathe.
The dialogue leaves much to be desired in terms of realism and purpose. It’s sparse, for one. These characters talk very little but make incredibly perceptive insights about each other (my pet peeve). In the worst cases, it’s boring and forgettable. The author hasn’t grasped yet what should be prose/inner thoughts and what should be dialogue, and it’s obvious.
The characters suffer as well from this lack of originality. Damien and Arielle are tropey cut outs of Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa. I was more interested in Arielle’s displacement from her culture rather than her power struggles, but that’s not really focused on. Mikira is a hot-headed and frustrating character who is always at the whims of evil, nuanceless Rezek. Her lack of agency especially in those scenes was not enjoyable at all. I appreciated that Talyana was a female twist on the cocky male love interest you often see in love triangles, but her sudden appearance with zero setup hit me like a ton of nothing. As such, I found her an obvious obstacle in what’s clearly going to be a Mikira/Reid endgame. The romances in general have no time to develop, even while the book tries to convince me these two couples love each other. Eh. Okay?
Sadly I won’t be sticking around to see if my suspicions are confirmed. There’s just not enough to keep me invested. It’s a shame because there really are some unique elements and magic here. I hope the series can be improved on this in the future.
There’s some decent worldbuilding here and a clear passion for that world from the author, but it’s hampered by a lack of finesse in the development and execution. Lots of intricate plot threads but they unravel in the most dull, predictable way possible. The text is riddled with plot twists and far too convenient deus ex machina moments to the point where we are racing to the end without a second to breathe.
The dialogue leaves much to be desired in terms of realism and purpose. It’s sparse, for one. These characters talk very little but make incredibly perceptive insights about each other (my pet peeve). In the worst cases, it’s boring and forgettable. The author hasn’t grasped yet what should be prose/inner thoughts and what should be dialogue, and it’s obvious.
The characters suffer as well from this lack of originality. Damien and Arielle are tropey cut outs of Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa. I was more interested in Arielle’s displacement from her culture rather than her power struggles, but that’s not really focused on. Mikira is a hot-headed and frustrating character who is always at the whims of evil, nuanceless Rezek. Her lack of agency especially in those scenes was not enjoyable at all. I appreciated that Talyana was a female twist on the cocky male love interest you often see in love triangles, but her sudden appearance with zero setup hit me like a ton of nothing. As such, I found her an obvious obstacle in what’s clearly going to be a Mikira/Reid endgame. The romances in general have no time to develop, even while the book tries to convince me these two couples love each other. Eh. Okay?
Sadly I won’t be sticking around to see if my suspicions are confirmed. There’s just not enough to keep me invested. It’s a shame because there really are some unique elements and magic here. I hope the series can be improved on this in the future.
October 3, 2023
I have been in a funky mood so that might affect my thoughts here, but this is a 2.5 rounded down for me. I liked the first half, but the second half was extremely blergh to me. I appreciate the writing style, especially as I blazed through it, but I didn't feel really connected to the book. The romance felt way too forced for my tastes, though there were aspects that I enjoyed from both couples and I liked parts of the dynamics. I did appreciate the different pacing as well with that.
Some conflicts that do pop up seemed to be a bit too convenient with the timing. Overall, the plot was okay (but I feel the races took up too many pages, tbh, even though I get they were the main point), and the writing style was fine, but I got really really frustrated with everyone except Reid and Shira. That said, Reid also felt too much of a side character for his role here, though I expect (and hope) he gets more depth in the next book.
Some conflicts that do pop up seemed to be a bit too convenient with the timing. Overall, the plot was okay (but I feel the races took up too many pages, tbh, even though I get they were the main point), and the writing style was fine, but I got really really frustrated with everyone except Reid and Shira. That said, Reid also felt too much of a side character for his role here, though I expect (and hope) he gets more depth in the next book.
September 30, 2023
I will admit one thing first: I was totally overtaken by Shiny Cover Syndrome when I went to request this book. I did like the sound of the blurb, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the pretty cover. So, truth be told, had I known this was the first book in a series, I wouldn’t have requested it because the last thing I need right now is to get invested in another series.
But! I can tell you that I actually ended up really liking this book, even though if it weren’t for the cover I probably wouldn’t have given it a try right now.
This Dark Descent isn’t the best fantasy novel out there right now. It isn’t even the best fantasy novel with Jewish folklore woven into it out there right now. However, it is a really entertaining and well-written book. The plot is fairly straightforward, which you’ll be thankful for, because there’s so many other things going on in this book that the last thing you need is a really complicated plot.
Josephson made this book very character-driven, which is where I suspect the comparison with Six of Crows comes from. The book is told from two POVs: that of horse racer Mikira and that of unlicensed enchanter Arielle. To round out a set of core four characters we add in Damien, a member of a noble house, and Reid, his best friend. These characters are very richly drawn, all with complete background stories, different motivations, different goals, and all kinds of problems. And don’t forget the trauma. There’s definitely trauma. Combine our core four with a great supporting cast made up of characters of all shades of gray and the tapestry of the book also begins to feel a little like All of Us Villains, too.
Now, where this book falls short, in my opinion, is in worldbuilding. It just isn’t weak in explaining the actual world around Mirkira and Arielle, it’s also a problem in explaining the magic system. Josephson leaned just a little too much on the Jewish folklore when the majority of magic practiced in the world the book is set in doesn’t practice magic that stems directly from Jewish folklore (please note that I say “folklore” because in this book the author uses what we would know as Jewish terms but the people who would be considered “Jewish” in this book are called “Kinnish”).
Surprisingly, I found that the horse races in this book were weak points in the story as well. They weren’t as well-written as they could’ve been, with rather weak fighting choreography to them. I had looked forward to these scenes but they ended up being rather secondary to everything else going on in this book.
As an endnote: If you are triggered by animal violence, you may want to take care while reading this book.
Altogether, it’s a really solid read, and if you’re in the mood to start a new YA book series that’s on the darker side, then I recommend it.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, ideas, and views expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Dark Fantasy/Fantasy Series/Romantasy/Supernatural Fantasy/YA Fantasy/YA Fantasy Romance
But! I can tell you that I actually ended up really liking this book, even though if it weren’t for the cover I probably wouldn’t have given it a try right now.
This Dark Descent isn’t the best fantasy novel out there right now. It isn’t even the best fantasy novel with Jewish folklore woven into it out there right now. However, it is a really entertaining and well-written book. The plot is fairly straightforward, which you’ll be thankful for, because there’s so many other things going on in this book that the last thing you need is a really complicated plot.
Josephson made this book very character-driven, which is where I suspect the comparison with Six of Crows comes from. The book is told from two POVs: that of horse racer Mikira and that of unlicensed enchanter Arielle. To round out a set of core four characters we add in Damien, a member of a noble house, and Reid, his best friend. These characters are very richly drawn, all with complete background stories, different motivations, different goals, and all kinds of problems. And don’t forget the trauma. There’s definitely trauma. Combine our core four with a great supporting cast made up of characters of all shades of gray and the tapestry of the book also begins to feel a little like All of Us Villains, too.
Now, where this book falls short, in my opinion, is in worldbuilding. It just isn’t weak in explaining the actual world around Mirkira and Arielle, it’s also a problem in explaining the magic system. Josephson leaned just a little too much on the Jewish folklore when the majority of magic practiced in the world the book is set in doesn’t practice magic that stems directly from Jewish folklore (please note that I say “folklore” because in this book the author uses what we would know as Jewish terms but the people who would be considered “Jewish” in this book are called “Kinnish”).
Surprisingly, I found that the horse races in this book were weak points in the story as well. They weren’t as well-written as they could’ve been, with rather weak fighting choreography to them. I had looked forward to these scenes but they ended up being rather secondary to everything else going on in this book.
As an endnote: If you are triggered by animal violence, you may want to take care while reading this book.
Altogether, it’s a really solid read, and if you’re in the mood to start a new YA book series that’s on the darker side, then I recommend it.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, ideas, and views expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Dark Fantasy/Fantasy Series/Romantasy/Supernatural Fantasy/YA Fantasy/YA Fantasy Romance
September 21, 2023
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the story we were given. I felt for the characters. I liked the plot. I, however, think the beginning of the book could have used some more fleshing out before the start of the overarching plot began. I would have liked to have gotten to know Mikira and Arielle a bit more, maybe gotten to know Mikira's father and sisters, so I could feel what was really at stake. Also, for Mikira being the starter of the book, I feel like her quest was overshadowed.
Want to read
April 29, 2022Jewish fantasy yes please
May 20, 2024
This book started off strong, lulled a bit in the middle then really picked up pace again. I was on a roller coaster with each girl���s journeys. A horse girl and a witch girl both looking for safety in some shape or form in their strange medieval fantasy world. The love interests were rather predictable but that’s ok! I just think that witch girl and her rich bf fell for each other a little too fast bonding over murder and shit.
But that ending. I honestly had no idea. Very interested to see what comes next.
But that ending. I honestly had no idea. Very interested to see what comes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2023
Kalyn Josephson’s This Dark Descent is a promising action packed start to a new young adult fantasy series with dual POV between the two female protagonists immersed in Jewish mythology. While there are certainly positive aspects to the book, there are also some shortcomings that prevent it from being truly exceptional. While the plot and characters are solid, I didn’t find them particularly captivating or awe-inspiring. That being said, the story does have a good flow and is easy to follow. However, in my opinion, there are several areas in which the book could have been improved to make it a more enjoyable read for audiences.
Despite the author’s efforts to clarify the workings of the magic system, I found myself left with a multitude of unanswered questions. For instance, it was unclear whether enchanters were a rare breed or if anyone could learn to cast spells. As a result, I was extremely frustrated during the first half of the book, as the author only provided minimal explanations about how the magic system worked. It wasn’t until the start of the second half of the book that I began to receive a bit more information, but even then, my concerns were not entirely resolved. While the author certainly made an effort to explain the workings of the magic system, I felt that there were still many gaps in my understanding of it by the time I reached the end of the book.
In terms of world building, This Dark Descent left something to be desired. I often found myself picturing scenes from Peaky Blinders or The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, a series that I absolutely adore. While the character dynamics were well-crafted, they didn’t particularly stand out or impress me in any significant way. While the characters were certainly likable and engaging, they didn’t bring anything particularly unique or exceptional to the table.
In my opinion, the author intentionally portrayed Mikira as a hot-headed and impulsive character, which made her difficult to sympathize with at times. While the family tragedy was certainly the driving force behind the plot, I didn’t feel particularly invested in Mikira’s personal stake in it. The interactions between Mikira and her sisters and father lacked depth and didn’t provide enough emotional resonance for me to truly care about their situation. Additionally, I found myself confused by the sudden romantic tension between Mikira and Quinn/Tarlyana, which was introduced abruptly and fizzled out just as quickly. Furthermore, the revelation that Tarlyana was actually Mikira’s childhood best friend, who had not been mentioned previously, felt like a convenient plot device rather than a well-developed character arc. Overall, while there were certainly elements of Mikira’s character that were interesting, I found her to be somewhat underdeveloped and lacking in depth. Another unconvincing thing for me was how Mikira was willing to use a horse in a series of races which had really high stakes without getting familiar with the horse at first. I don’t know horses but I know cars. If you don’t know what you are driving like the back of your hand that’s a recipe of disaster.
Arielle was a standout character for me, and I found myself sympathizing with her situation and invested in her character arc. Her backstory was well-crafted and had enough dark elements to provide a sense of suspense and intrigue, which kept me engaged and eager to see what would happen to her moving forward. However, I didn’t find the romance between Arielle and Damien to be particularly compelling. Their chemistry felt lukewarm at best, and I wasn’t fully convinced by their relationship. Toward the end of the book, the author attempted to provide more depth to their romance by including snippets of Damien’s perspective in Arielle’s chapters, but I didn’t feel like this did much to enhance their chemistry. While I appreciated the effort to flesh out their relationship, it ultimately fell short for me.
I thought Reid and Shiba were excellent side characters, and I enjoyed their presence in the story. Similarly, I found Rezek and Loic to be well-crafted villains, and I appreciated the depth and nuance that was given to their characters. The portrayal of court and great house politics was also intriguing, and added a much needed layer to the story. However, there were some weak points in the politics that I won’t go into detail about.
In general, I would say that This Dark Descent is a good book with plenty of potential. However, I do believe that the plot, characters, and world building could all benefit from further development and strengthening. While there were certainly some positive aspects to the book, such as the solid foundation of the magic system and the well-crafted villains, there were also areas that could be improved. With some additional attention to these areas, I think that the series has the potential to really shine.
Despite the author’s efforts to clarify the workings of the magic system, I found myself left with a multitude of unanswered questions. For instance, it was unclear whether enchanters were a rare breed or if anyone could learn to cast spells. As a result, I was extremely frustrated during the first half of the book, as the author only provided minimal explanations about how the magic system worked. It wasn’t until the start of the second half of the book that I began to receive a bit more information, but even then, my concerns were not entirely resolved. While the author certainly made an effort to explain the workings of the magic system, I felt that there were still many gaps in my understanding of it by the time I reached the end of the book.
In terms of world building, This Dark Descent left something to be desired. I often found myself picturing scenes from Peaky Blinders or The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, a series that I absolutely adore. While the character dynamics were well-crafted, they didn’t particularly stand out or impress me in any significant way. While the characters were certainly likable and engaging, they didn’t bring anything particularly unique or exceptional to the table.
In my opinion, the author intentionally portrayed Mikira as a hot-headed and impulsive character, which made her difficult to sympathize with at times. While the family tragedy was certainly the driving force behind the plot, I didn’t feel particularly invested in Mikira’s personal stake in it. The interactions between Mikira and her sisters and father lacked depth and didn’t provide enough emotional resonance for me to truly care about their situation. Additionally, I found myself confused by the sudden romantic tension between Mikira and Quinn/Tarlyana, which was introduced abruptly and fizzled out just as quickly. Furthermore, the revelation that Tarlyana was actually Mikira’s childhood best friend, who had not been mentioned previously, felt like a convenient plot device rather than a well-developed character arc. Overall, while there were certainly elements of Mikira’s character that were interesting, I found her to be somewhat underdeveloped and lacking in depth. Another unconvincing thing for me was how Mikira was willing to use a horse in a series of races which had really high stakes without getting familiar with the horse at first. I don’t know horses but I know cars. If you don’t know what you are driving like the back of your hand that’s a recipe of disaster.
Arielle was a standout character for me, and I found myself sympathizing with her situation and invested in her character arc. Her backstory was well-crafted and had enough dark elements to provide a sense of suspense and intrigue, which kept me engaged and eager to see what would happen to her moving forward. However, I didn’t find the romance between Arielle and Damien to be particularly compelling. Their chemistry felt lukewarm at best, and I wasn’t fully convinced by their relationship. Toward the end of the book, the author attempted to provide more depth to their romance by including snippets of Damien’s perspective in Arielle’s chapters, but I didn’t feel like this did much to enhance their chemistry. While I appreciated the effort to flesh out their relationship, it ultimately fell short for me.
I thought Reid and Shiba were excellent side characters, and I enjoyed their presence in the story. Similarly, I found Rezek and Loic to be well-crafted villains, and I appreciated the depth and nuance that was given to their characters. The portrayal of court and great house politics was also intriguing, and added a much needed layer to the story. However, there were some weak points in the politics that I won’t go into detail about.
In general, I would say that This Dark Descent is a good book with plenty of potential. However, I do believe that the plot, characters, and world building could all benefit from further development and strengthening. While there were certainly some positive aspects to the book, such as the solid foundation of the magic system and the well-crafted villains, there were also areas that could be improved. With some additional attention to these areas, I think that the series has the potential to really shine.
August 15, 2023
Hmmm… Lots of feels with this book! It is rich and sumptuously written. It has layers and layers yet to be explored, and it has contradictions - both complimentary and challenging.
The story is told from two female characters POV. Mikira, the daughter of a horse-breader who can imbue enchantments into the horses he raises. The kingdom they live in, however, is under the thumb of five very powerful and corrupt noble houses. When the noble house that controls Mikira’s family decide they want her family business and take her father as an indentured servant (slave) which leaves the rest of the family with nothing, Mikira makes a deal to free him - she must race in a brutal, nation-wide horse race that the nobles hold every 10 years. BUT, she must do so on a horse void of any enchantments (all the other horses have them). It’s basically a death sentence for her but it is also the only hope she has of freeing her father and saving her family.
The second POV is from a young foreigner named Arielle, whose homeland has been destroyed and who is hiding from a past to horrible to acknowledge. Arielle also holds a highly forbidden form of magic that will assuredly get her killed if the powerful houses discover.
Enter the third main character, Damien. A lord of one of the lesser, but still powerful houses who is in a very vengeful rivalry with another, more powerful noble house. Damien finds Mikira and Arielle and offers them both a deal they can’t refuse. He will sponsor Mikira in the race and give both young women the thing they most want, IF they help him in his quest to accomplish his goals.
Thus begins an absolutely riveting tale with all the things that make an action-packed story unforgettable! There is loyalty, deceit, love, betrayal and a host of other twists and turns that wrench the heart in innumerable ways.
In fact, this book is a HUGE five star read, IF one isn’t bothered by the weird and huge switch in Mikira’s character near the end (obviously, I’m one that it REALLY bothered!) The author has created her character to be honest, loyal and frank. She has a bit of a temper and when there is a problem she addresses it head-on. We see that - and admire it throughout the first 2/3 of the book. Then, suddenly, her character flips a complete 180 and does exactly the opposite! Not only does she not confront the person in question (Damien) but she holds suspicious evidence for absolutely no apparent reason that I could fathom. This, of course, creates the setting for the big final twist, but it goes so far against her character that I was extremely disappointed. It just didn’t make logical sense against the character the author created in the first place.
Still, I would highly recommend giving this story a try! It is such a richly penned and intricately developed story that the experience itself is well worth the read!
The story is told from two female characters POV. Mikira, the daughter of a horse-breader who can imbue enchantments into the horses he raises. The kingdom they live in, however, is under the thumb of five very powerful and corrupt noble houses. When the noble house that controls Mikira’s family decide they want her family business and take her father as an indentured servant (slave) which leaves the rest of the family with nothing, Mikira makes a deal to free him - she must race in a brutal, nation-wide horse race that the nobles hold every 10 years. BUT, she must do so on a horse void of any enchantments (all the other horses have them). It’s basically a death sentence for her but it is also the only hope she has of freeing her father and saving her family.
The second POV is from a young foreigner named Arielle, whose homeland has been destroyed and who is hiding from a past to horrible to acknowledge. Arielle also holds a highly forbidden form of magic that will assuredly get her killed if the powerful houses discover.
Enter the third main character, Damien. A lord of one of the lesser, but still powerful houses who is in a very vengeful rivalry with another, more powerful noble house. Damien finds Mikira and Arielle and offers them both a deal they can’t refuse. He will sponsor Mikira in the race and give both young women the thing they most want, IF they help him in his quest to accomplish his goals.
Thus begins an absolutely riveting tale with all the things that make an action-packed story unforgettable! There is loyalty, deceit, love, betrayal and a host of other twists and turns that wrench the heart in innumerable ways.
In fact, this book is a HUGE five star read, IF one isn’t bothered by the weird and huge switch in Mikira’s character near the end (obviously, I’m one that it REALLY bothered!) The author has created her character to be honest, loyal and frank. She has a bit of a temper and when there is a problem she addresses it head-on. We see that - and admire it throughout the first 2/3 of the book. Then, suddenly, her character flips a complete 180 and does exactly the opposite! Not only does she not confront the person in question (Damien) but she holds suspicious evidence for absolutely no apparent reason that I could fathom. This, of course, creates the setting for the big final twist, but it goes so far against her character that I was extremely disappointed. It just didn’t make logical sense against the character the author created in the first place.
Still, I would highly recommend giving this story a try! It is such a richly penned and intricately developed story that the experience itself is well worth the read!
March 19, 2023
I went into This Dark Descent thinking it would turn me into a horse girl. I came out utterly transformed by how goddamn good it is.
I cannot get over how much I freaking loved the entire thing. Masterfully crafted from top to bottom, the emotional beats it hits are STUNNING and had me breathless for every single one. Whispered threats became bangs inside my chest and there is just something about the way that Kalyn writes scenes in the rain that have me wanting to scream and never stop. The way tension built and paid off, ugh, so, so good.
SPEAKING OF SCREAMING LEMME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MIKIRA, ARI, REID, AND DAMIEN. Every single one of them are under my protection and nothing bad can ever happen to them. The ROMANTIC ANGST (and romantic lines omg I wanted to faint) the BLOSSOMING FRIENDSHIP, THE CAT THERE’S A CAT, THE ENTIRE GROUP DYNAMIC. I love them all and they are my children.
This was everything I loved in a book. Impeccable characters, a fascinating world, and a little bit of darkness that tips over the edge into full blown terror at just the right moment. I love it so much I might burst.
I cannot get over how much I freaking loved the entire thing. Masterfully crafted from top to bottom, the emotional beats it hits are STUNNING and had me breathless for every single one. Whispered threats became bangs inside my chest and there is just something about the way that Kalyn writes scenes in the rain that have me wanting to scream and never stop. The way tension built and paid off, ugh, so, so good.
SPEAKING OF SCREAMING LEMME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MIKIRA, ARI, REID, AND DAMIEN. Every single one of them are under my protection and nothing bad can ever happen to them. The ROMANTIC ANGST (and romantic lines omg I wanted to faint) the BLOSSOMING FRIENDSHIP, THE CAT THERE’S A CAT, THE ENTIRE GROUP DYNAMIC. I love them all and they are my children.
This was everything I loved in a book. Impeccable characters, a fascinating world, and a little bit of darkness that tips over the edge into full blown terror at just the right moment. I love it so much I might burst.
September 16, 2023
Mario Kart, the Scorpio Races, and Six of Crows have a one night stand which results in a baby. This is that baby.
Wowowow, I had such a fun time with this one! While I want to make sure I touch on my issues with the a-spec representation, I think I’ll clinch this review with that. In the meantime, let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?
STRENGTHS: PLOT AND WORLD
Mikira makes a bet with a powerful man to save her father—she will compete in the Illinir, a dangerous horse-racing competition that takes place once every ten years, and she will win it without the aid of an enchanted horse.
From the moment of this catalyst and onward, I was hooked. While I struggled to make sense of why Mikira would make such an impossible bet and think that scene should’ve been edited to make the logic stronger, everything that happened afterward with the plot was incredible.
This story follows two POV characters, Mikira the jockey, and Arielle, the black-market enchantress who can create magical creatures that do not bear marks of their enchantment. Above them is the puppeteer of the plot, Damien, who is essentially a mobster in a seat of power, contriving to bring these two women together and set the plot’s proverbial ball rolling.
The death-defying, magical horse race that is the Illinir was captivating to read. Mikira’s training leading up to the Illinir and participation in it gave major Hunger Games vibes.
Arielle’s plot line, slowly but assuredly coming into her power as she crafts the perfect golem horse, an enchanted beast that doesn’t have the telltale signs of a creature that’s been magicked, was also just as ensnaring. As she concentrates on fueling her well of power in order to craft a golem that has a shot at winning the Illinir, she slowly loses herself, bit by bit, to the magic. This interplay between practicing the magic that seductively calls to her like a siren’s song, all the while knowing that it’s chipping away at her humanity and slowly possessing her, was delicious and distressing to read all at once.
As for the magic system itself, Arielle’s power creating these golems is extremely illicit and could mean “the difference between steady work and a funeral pyre.” It involves shaping an animal out of clay and literally breathing life into it with her Kinnish magic, a highly persecuted form of magic from her conquered homeland, as ordinary enchanters from the conquering country simply charm existing objects and living beings. This magic system was incredibly unique and interesting to me, as Josephson interwove Jewish mythology into it and further enriched the world by grounding it in the mythology that is so specific and personal to her.
The power structure in the world was also something I loved. There is a royal family within this world, and underneath the royals are the different noble houses. These houses serve almost as their own warring mafias within the world at large. It is often said that they can get away with anything, and the next head of house among a brood of siblings is determined by something called the Ascension. The two Ascensions we hear of in this novel dictate that whichever child deals the largest blow to another house will be the next head of the house. The way they go about this oftentimes results in murder, theft, or other crimes. It really helped to orient the world into a darker one, cloaked in an atmosphere of moral grayness and bordering on absolute chaos.
Between the plot, the magic system, and some elements of the world building, I was thoroughly captivated. However, there are a number of things that chafed while I read as well.
CHARACTERIZATION
Because so much time is devoted to the world, the dual-POV, fast-paced plot of enchanted horse races and magical possession, and the magic system itself, there was left very little time to spend on other elements of the story. The first major issue was the characterization.
Mikira spends the majority of the novel as a hot-headed girl who acts first, speaks her mind, and thinks about it afterward. There is no real point in the novel that truly feels transformative toward her nature; by all intents and purposes, she starts the book and ends the book in the same form. There is a moment near the end, where she suddenly finds the self control to speak like a politician in front of an assembly of royalty, noble houses, and others, but because it is ignited by a single conversation and then occurs in the very next scene, which is her last in the novel, it feels unearned and potentially transient.
As for Arielle, she begins the novel as a hungry, poor, and unlicensed enchantress who practices the illicit Kinnish magic—that could get her put to death—just to make enough money to survive. She is meeker in nature and, due to the persecution of her people by the conquering country and its inhabitants, she often is forced to let slide injustice after injustice just to keep the peace and stay alive. This is until Damien crosses her path and brings her into his web of power and deception. He encourages her self assurance, her strength, and her power. As she feeds the never-sated beast within her that pleads for more illicit magic, he is there encouraging her as she grows stronger and stronger. This is until her magic finally consumes her.
Ari’s journey throughout this book certainly has all the hallmarks of true transformation, however, it is complicated by the fact that a man brings it out of her. It’s his power that keeps her safe in a world that would otherwise persecute her if she raised her chin to their injustices. It’s his encouragement that lights her up and keeps her pursuit of magic going. And ultimately, it’s his manipulation that leads her down into the descent. Not a whole lot of this takes place because Ari wants it for herself or could do it on her own, except maybe that last bit. It’s Damien’s facilitations that make it happen. This chafes a bit, since this book seems to have at the heart of it a feminist message.
ROMANCE AND A-SPEC REPRESENTATION
This leads me straight into my next complaint: the romance. Damien and Ari’s romance is the focal point in this novel, although we get hints of the goings-on between Reid and Mikira.
Let’s start this section out by stating that Arielle is demisexual. As an a-spec person myself who teeters on labeling herself similarly, I want to comment on the plausibility of the romance between Ari and Damien.
The first we hear of Ari’s sexuality is in a conversation between her and Mikira.
The issue with this section is that it is all telling and no showing. We see none of this blooming connection between Ari and Damien; most of the golem creation scenes where they are together are summarized and montaged away. They have maybe a handful of actual conversations on the page together, and then bam. Out of nowhere, this scene takes place.
Because of the revelation later in this scene which you will see below, this usage of montages and summary to skip past the formation of the romance doesn’t work with the context of a demisexual FMC. I can’t sit here as someone who identifies similarly and say I felt this was a credible representation when no time at all was devoted to actually showing any of this taking place.
Instead, the author skips straight past the alienation and uncertainty that actually resonates with the more frustrating but authentic sides of the demisexual experience, and she tells us about it in a single paragraph. What’s worse—that’s the last we hear of it. It left the representation feeling tacked-on. While, in the moment, I was excited seeing it laid out in plain English on the page, in retrospect, the representation just didn’t work for me. There was an effort there by the author, but ultimately it wasn’t a successful one.
Additionally, I had trouble buying that a demisexual individual who has made it this far in life—probably making friends and acquaintances of all genders—and never having formed an attraction with a single one, would fall for a person in such a short time, with little reason to trust him, and fall for him so thoroughly that he is the first and only person she’s ever been sexually or romantically attracted to. Maybe if Ari were a recluse in her early life, I could believe it, but not much is told to us about her life before she settled far from her family, so context was needed to dispel this inconsistency. Otherwise, this is yet another reason why this representation fell apart upon further inspection.
This conversation about sexuality continues between the two girls, with explicit in-the-text descriptions of sexuality, and a hint at Mikira potentially being aro/ace, although I’ll get to that in a second.
The way this conversation plays out feels very unnatural and overly textbook. It also oversimplifies demisexuality to its barest bones without giving us an individualized experience of it on the page. Truly, anything of substance that indicates demisexuality in Ari is laid out in this single scene, and then everything else proceeds in accordance with the status quo of relationship progression—kissing, sex, and confessions of love.
These confessions of love don’t end up resonating, however, due to the lack of relationship development up until this point. So in essence, the entire romance suffers because of the way the author skips over important foundational scenes for their relationship. We are told, rather than shown, how they feel for one another, and it all ends up feeling very hollow to read.
One fix I would have suggested if there had been time to edit this prior to release is that the romance should burn more slowly and be spread out across several books before reaching this point. I realize that the genre of this novel is not romance, and therefore the actual romance in it is only a subplot. In my mind, that’s all the more reason not to rush things by expediting the relationship in a single novel. I wish Josephson had taken her time and let it unfold across multiple books before reaching the depths that we are told about by the end.
On the note of the aro/ace protagonist that Josephson teased about on Twitter, I’m curious to whom she is referring. It’s not Ari or Damien, since they have both a sexual and a romantic attraction toward each other. Reid wouldn’t be considered an MC, nor would Damien. So that leaves Mikira. And I’ll be honest, her comment about just wanting someone to sit on the porch with to watch the horses gave me strong aro/ace vibes.
However, there are multiple scenes in this book where she appears to be at least romantically attracted to a female side character and Reid. Specifically, there is a line where she thinks about a freckle above the female character’s lip and then course corrects herself so she focuses on other things. This does not spell aromantic to me. Even that description of Mikira fixating on her lips feels like a physical attraction is there—or at least the beginnings of one—which indicates that she may not even be asexual. So that begs the question: Why is Josephson marketing this as a book with an aro/ace MC? And why are other reviewers parroting this? There is just no strong evidence in the text to back up this claim, and if it’s supposed to be there, then I’m going to need a heck of a lot stronger research into aro/ace identities and experiences from Josephson before she pens the sequel.
With all that being said, I don’t know how the author identifies. If she is not in the a-spec community, or at least not specifically demisexual like Ari, I’m glad she gave us representation, even if it ultimately didn’t work. I want to see more of this. If it veers too close to oversimplification or textbook, so be it, as long as more books are out there shining light on a-spec identities. I will be the first to say I’m glad to see it, but I can also point out where I find it lacking in order to hopefully encourage more credible representations in the future.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, this was a enjoyable ride! I had fun, despite the flaws with the characterization and the romance, and am so excited to see where Josephson takes this series going forward.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
Laurel Lefkow and Rebecca Norfolk’s performances were fantastic. I loved their accents and the attitudes their voices brought to the characters.
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Wowowow, I had such a fun time with this one! While I want to make sure I touch on my issues with the a-spec representation, I think I’ll clinch this review with that. In the meantime, let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?
STRENGTHS: PLOT AND WORLD
Mikira makes a bet with a powerful man to save her father—she will compete in the Illinir, a dangerous horse-racing competition that takes place once every ten years, and she will win it without the aid of an enchanted horse.
From the moment of this catalyst and onward, I was hooked. While I struggled to make sense of why Mikira would make such an impossible bet and think that scene should’ve been edited to make the logic stronger, everything that happened afterward with the plot was incredible.
This story follows two POV characters, Mikira the jockey, and Arielle, the black-market enchantress who can create magical creatures that do not bear marks of their enchantment. Above them is the puppeteer of the plot, Damien, who is essentially a mobster in a seat of power, contriving to bring these two women together and set the plot’s proverbial ball rolling.
The death-defying, magical horse race that is the Illinir was captivating to read. Mikira’s training leading up to the Illinir and participation in it gave major Hunger Games vibes.
Arielle’s plot line, slowly but assuredly coming into her power as she crafts the perfect golem horse, an enchanted beast that doesn’t have the telltale signs of a creature that’s been magicked, was also just as ensnaring. As she concentrates on fueling her well of power in order to craft a golem that has a shot at winning the Illinir, she slowly loses herself, bit by bit, to the magic. This interplay between practicing the magic that seductively calls to her like a siren’s song, all the while knowing that it’s chipping away at her humanity and slowly possessing her, was delicious and distressing to read all at once.
As for the magic system itself, Arielle’s power creating these golems is extremely illicit and could mean “the difference between steady work and a funeral pyre.” It involves shaping an animal out of clay and literally breathing life into it with her Kinnish magic, a highly persecuted form of magic from her conquered homeland, as ordinary enchanters from the conquering country simply charm existing objects and living beings. This magic system was incredibly unique and interesting to me, as Josephson interwove Jewish mythology into it and further enriched the world by grounding it in the mythology that is so specific and personal to her.
The power structure in the world was also something I loved. There is a royal family within this world, and underneath the royals are the different noble houses. These houses serve almost as their own warring mafias within the world at large. It is often said that they can get away with anything, and the next head of house among a brood of siblings is determined by something called the Ascension. The two Ascensions we hear of in this novel dictate that whichever child deals the largest blow to another house will be the next head of the house. The way they go about this oftentimes results in murder, theft, or other crimes. It really helped to orient the world into a darker one, cloaked in an atmosphere of moral grayness and bordering on absolute chaos.
Between the plot, the magic system, and some elements of the world building, I was thoroughly captivated. However, there are a number of things that chafed while I read as well.
CHARACTERIZATION
Because so much time is devoted to the world, the dual-POV, fast-paced plot of enchanted horse races and magical possession, and the magic system itself, there was left very little time to spend on other elements of the story. The first major issue was the characterization.
Mikira spends the majority of the novel as a hot-headed girl who acts first, speaks her mind, and thinks about it afterward. There is no real point in the novel that truly feels transformative toward her nature; by all intents and purposes, she starts the book and ends the book in the same form. There is a moment near the end, where she suddenly finds the self control to speak like a politician in front of an assembly of royalty, noble houses, and others, but because it is ignited by a single conversation and then occurs in the very next scene, which is her last in the novel, it feels unearned and potentially transient.
As for Arielle, she begins the novel as a hungry, poor, and unlicensed enchantress who practices the illicit Kinnish magic—that could get her put to death—just to make enough money to survive. She is meeker in nature and, due to the persecution of her people by the conquering country and its inhabitants, she often is forced to let slide injustice after injustice just to keep the peace and stay alive. This is until Damien crosses her path and brings her into his web of power and deception. He encourages her self assurance, her strength, and her power. As she feeds the never-sated beast within her that pleads for more illicit magic, he is there encouraging her as she grows stronger and stronger. This is until her magic finally consumes her.
Ari’s journey throughout this book certainly has all the hallmarks of true transformation, however, it is complicated by the fact that a man brings it out of her. It’s his power that keeps her safe in a world that would otherwise persecute her if she raised her chin to their injustices. It’s his encouragement that lights her up and keeps her pursuit of magic going. And ultimately, it’s his manipulation that leads her down into the descent. Not a whole lot of this takes place because Ari wants it for herself or could do it on her own, except maybe that last bit. It’s Damien’s facilitations that make it happen. This chafes a bit, since this book seems to have at the heart of it a feminist message.
ROMANCE AND A-SPEC REPRESENTATION
This leads me straight into my next complaint: the romance. Damien and Ari’s romance is the focal point in this novel, although we get hints of the goings-on between Reid and Mikira.
Let’s start this section out by stating that Arielle is demisexual. As an a-spec person myself who teeters on labeling herself similarly, I want to comment on the plausibility of the romance between Ari and Damien.
The first we hear of Ari’s sexuality is in a conversation between her and Mikira.
”I find him…interesting,” she mumbled, uncertain about the blossoming warmth in her chest.
It was a foreign feeling, although not an altogether unwelcome one, and it had been growing. Over the last few weeks, she’d learned more about Damien than she felt she had any right to. She knew he was a scholar, a man of numbers and figures. She knew how rarely he shared his smile and how often he sought a stiff drink. She knew that, as serious as he could be, he was full of passion. He cared for Reid and his house, and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
The issue with this section is that it is all telling and no showing. We see none of this blooming connection between Ari and Damien; most of the golem creation scenes where they are together are summarized and montaged away. They have maybe a handful of actual conversations on the page together, and then bam. Out of nowhere, this scene takes place.
Because of the revelation later in this scene which you will see below, this usage of montages and summary to skip past the formation of the romance doesn’t work with the context of a demisexual FMC. I can’t sit here as someone who identifies similarly and say I felt this was a credible representation when no time at all was devoted to actually showing any of this taking place.
Instead, the author skips straight past the alienation and uncertainty that actually resonates with the more frustrating but authentic sides of the demisexual experience, and she tells us about it in a single paragraph. What’s worse—that’s the last we hear of it. It left the representation feeling tacked-on. While, in the moment, I was excited seeing it laid out in plain English on the page, in retrospect, the representation just didn’t work for me. There was an effort there by the author, but ultimately it wasn’t a successful one.
Additionally, I had trouble buying that a demisexual individual who has made it this far in life—probably making friends and acquaintances of all genders—and never having formed an attraction with a single one, would fall for a person in such a short time, with little reason to trust him, and fall for him so thoroughly that he is the first and only person she’s ever been sexually or romantically attracted to. Maybe if Ari were a recluse in her early life, I could believe it, but not much is told to us about her life before she settled far from her family, so context was needed to dispel this inconsistency. Otherwise, this is yet another reason why this representation fell apart upon further inspection.
This conversation about sexuality continues between the two girls, with explicit in-the-text descriptions of sexuality, and a hint at Mikira potentially being aro/ace, although I’ll get to that in a second.
“It’s a new feeling for me,” she continued, not sure what she intended to say. She’d never described this out loud before. “At first, I just thought relationships just weren’t for me, as I’d never felt attracted to anyone before. I’m starting to realize that I just need to get to know them first.”
Mikira tilted her head. “You need an emotional connection to have a physical one, you mean.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“I get that.” Mikira replied, thoughtfully. “I just want someone to sit on the porch and watch the horses with.”
The way this conversation plays out feels very unnatural and overly textbook. It also oversimplifies demisexuality to its barest bones without giving us an individualized experience of it on the page. Truly, anything of substance that indicates demisexuality in Ari is laid out in this single scene, and then everything else proceeds in accordance with the status quo of relationship progression—kissing, sex, and confessions of love.
These confessions of love don’t end up resonating, however, due to the lack of relationship development up until this point. So in essence, the entire romance suffers because of the way the author skips over important foundational scenes for their relationship. We are told, rather than shown, how they feel for one another, and it all ends up feeling very hollow to read.
One fix I would have suggested if there had been time to edit this prior to release is that the romance should burn more slowly and be spread out across several books before reaching this point. I realize that the genre of this novel is not romance, and therefore the actual romance in it is only a subplot. In my mind, that’s all the more reason not to rush things by expediting the relationship in a single novel. I wish Josephson had taken her time and let it unfold across multiple books before reaching the depths that we are told about by the end.
On the note of the aro/ace protagonist that Josephson teased about on Twitter, I’m curious to whom she is referring. It’s not Ari or Damien, since they have both a sexual and a romantic attraction toward each other. Reid wouldn’t be considered an MC, nor would Damien. So that leaves Mikira. And I’ll be honest, her comment about just wanting someone to sit on the porch with to watch the horses gave me strong aro/ace vibes.
However, there are multiple scenes in this book where she appears to be at least romantically attracted to a female side character and Reid. Specifically, there is a line where she thinks about a freckle above the female character’s lip and then course corrects herself so she focuses on other things. This does not spell aromantic to me. Even that description of Mikira fixating on her lips feels like a physical attraction is there—or at least the beginnings of one—which indicates that she may not even be asexual. So that begs the question: Why is Josephson marketing this as a book with an aro/ace MC? And why are other reviewers parroting this? There is just no strong evidence in the text to back up this claim, and if it’s supposed to be there, then I’m going to need a heck of a lot stronger research into aro/ace identities and experiences from Josephson before she pens the sequel.
With all that being said, I don’t know how the author identifies. If she is not in the a-spec community, or at least not specifically demisexual like Ari, I’m glad she gave us representation, even if it ultimately didn’t work. I want to see more of this. If it veers too close to oversimplification or textbook, so be it, as long as more books are out there shining light on a-spec identities. I will be the first to say I’m glad to see it, but I can also point out where I find it lacking in order to hopefully encourage more credible representations in the future.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, this was a enjoyable ride! I had fun, despite the flaws with the characterization and the romance, and am so excited to see where Josephson takes this series going forward.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
Laurel Lefkow and Rebecca Norfolk’s performances were fantastic. I loved their accents and the attitudes their voices brought to the characters.
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
September 29, 2024
If there's one thing I adore, it is a cast of fiercely lovable, deeply flawed, and complex characters. Especially when they get upset at one another and you can see both sides - it is the kind of nuanced characters that I adore. If you enjoyed the Six of Crows, Gilded Wolves, House of Bane & Blood, and Peaky Blinders - you’ll definitely feel at home with this book. The base of this is a desire to win the Illinir, a deadly horse race with high stakes, and it sets the tone for a story filled with secrets, alliances, and betrayals. All the mobsters, high stakes, and slow-building trust between the characters only added to the intrigue.
There is a Jewish-based magic, which adds an amazing layer of world-building and I love how it sets the story apart from other fantasy novels. It feels unique and deeply integrated into the world in a way that’s fascinating. There are magic-enhanced animals and golems. And the horse racing! It's such a unique concept. I loved how it heightened the tension throughout and served as the perfect backdrop for the action.
The characters are a standout for me. Every single one has their own agenda, secrets, and relationships with one another, and watching them cautiously navigate that web is so entertaining. Their prickly exteriors and softer sides make them all the more relatable and endearing.
I love the whispers of romance between Reid and Mikira. Damien and Ari are also adorable - despite being framed as more monstrous characters - their vulnerability, acceptance, and forgiveness of one another really shines. The demi rep is also a wonderful touch and adds even more depth to the cast.
If you love character-driven stories, This Dark Descent will be right up your alley. I can’t wait for the sequel to see where these phenomenal characters go next!
Thanks so much to TBR and Beyond Book Tours and the author for the complimentary paperback and opportunity to review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
There is a Jewish-based magic, which adds an amazing layer of world-building and I love how it sets the story apart from other fantasy novels. It feels unique and deeply integrated into the world in a way that’s fascinating. There are magic-enhanced animals and golems. And the horse racing! It's such a unique concept. I loved how it heightened the tension throughout and served as the perfect backdrop for the action.
The characters are a standout for me. Every single one has their own agenda, secrets, and relationships with one another, and watching them cautiously navigate that web is so entertaining. Their prickly exteriors and softer sides make them all the more relatable and endearing.
I love the whispers of romance between Reid and Mikira. Damien and Ari are also adorable - despite being framed as more monstrous characters - their vulnerability, acceptance, and forgiveness of one another really shines. The demi rep is also a wonderful touch and adds even more depth to the cast.
If you love character-driven stories, This Dark Descent will be right up your alley. I can’t wait for the sequel to see where these phenomenal characters go next!
Thanks so much to TBR and Beyond Book Tours and the author for the complimentary paperback and opportunity to review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
October 4, 2023
3.5/5 Stars
This is what I would call a Beginner fantasy book. It's got the tropes, easy to read, and convenient. For the reasons stated I found this book just okay. The magic system was interesting and I did enjoy the writing. I felt invested in the characters and story. I loved that Jewish Folklore was intertwined in this book. It brought something fresh to the YA fantasy book. I was also very surprised by how fast I read this book. I finished this book very fast. I remember starting the book and then taking a break after a while only to realize I was 60% of the way in. Overall I would recommend giving this a read as I had a great and enjoyable time.
This is what I would call a Beginner fantasy book. It's got the tropes, easy to read, and convenient. For the reasons stated I found this book just okay. The magic system was interesting and I did enjoy the writing. I felt invested in the characters and story. I loved that Jewish Folklore was intertwined in this book. It brought something fresh to the YA fantasy book. I was also very surprised by how fast I read this book. I finished this book very fast. I remember starting the book and then taking a break after a while only to realize I was 60% of the way in. Overall I would recommend giving this a read as I had a great and enjoyable time.
August 12, 2024
3.75ish stars rounded up; this has such a great premise with lots of political machinations and the magic system is veryyyy interesting. But why for the love of god did the map get buried at the back of the book?! I was making up my own map in my head the whole time to find that at the end 😩 Also, I liked the pacing - we get right into it from chapter one 👏🏼 - but a little more context would have been helpful too, especially around the different countries’ cultures and their politics and people. Eagerly anticipating book 2 after that what the hell ending 🐈⬛🏇📖🗡️
July 24, 2023
This book was nothing short of iconic. Magical horse races, so much political conflict, betrayals, scheming, and magic. Read if you are a competitive person
October 12, 2023
This Dark Descent was my dark horse of 2023 reads. I went in for sapphic romance, heard some spoilers from the folks on Goodreads about said romance/lack of, and then put off reading my ARC for an interminable amount of time...but I regret waiting, because this book was incredible.
Pitched as The Scorpio Races meet Six of Crows, This Dark Descent follows the dual POVs of underground horse racer Mikira and spellcaster Arielle as they work to win the deadliest race in the kingdom, or else fall to the scheming of some seriously power hungry lords.
But it's so much more than the description, and it honestly doesn't do this book justice. First off, the magic system is INCREDIBLE. I'd describe it as Jewish folklore meets alchemy, and I loved getting to discover more of this forbidden magic alongside Ari. Her chapters were utterly captivating, as was the prose, and the feminine rage!! Her twist at the end felt so well done and natural.
But Mikira, even though I was more hesitant on her in the beginning, is also interesting in her own way. I loved the bisexual representation (I think we all know which LI I was rooting for), but also how her love interests don't consume her storyline. However, I'm knocking a star off because the politics of the story, which took up a lot of Kira's chapters, were kind of confusing. I'm not sure if the published, paper copy has this, but I would have appreciated a Dramatis Personae like other large-cast fantasy novels I've read, and maybe some kind of hierarchy to keep all the lords and minor lords and all that straight. I spent way too much time trying to figure this out, and less actually concentrating on how Kira's life is affected by all the moving pieces.
Overall, though: like the magical races This Dark Descent centers around, this was a dark, twisting, and utterly unforgettable ride, and I was so thrilled to see there's a sequel in the works! I love Mikira, but that Ari cliffhanger (minor spoiler?) leaves me begging for more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Kalyn Josephson for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Pitched as The Scorpio Races meet Six of Crows, This Dark Descent follows the dual POVs of underground horse racer Mikira and spellcaster Arielle as they work to win the deadliest race in the kingdom, or else fall to the scheming of some seriously power hungry lords.
But it's so much more than the description, and it honestly doesn't do this book justice. First off, the magic system is INCREDIBLE. I'd describe it as Jewish folklore meets alchemy, and I loved getting to discover more of this forbidden magic alongside Ari. Her chapters were utterly captivating, as was the prose, and the feminine rage!! Her twist at the end felt so well done and natural.
But Mikira, even though I was more hesitant on her in the beginning, is also interesting in her own way. I loved the bisexual representation (I think we all know which LI I was rooting for), but also how her love interests don't consume her storyline. However, I'm knocking a star off because the politics of the story, which took up a lot of Kira's chapters, were kind of confusing. I'm not sure if the published, paper copy has this, but I would have appreciated a Dramatis Personae like other large-cast fantasy novels I've read, and maybe some kind of hierarchy to keep all the lords and minor lords and all that straight. I spent way too much time trying to figure this out, and less actually concentrating on how Kira's life is affected by all the moving pieces.
Overall, though: like the magical races This Dark Descent centers around, this was a dark, twisting, and utterly unforgettable ride, and I was so thrilled to see there's a sequel in the works! I love Mikira, but that Ari cliffhanger (minor spoiler?) leaves me begging for more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Kalyn Josephson for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 20, 2023
I requested this book for the Peaky Blinders vibes, but walked away with so much more. The premise was very unique. There were enchanted horses competing in a series of races and forbidden magic. As well as rivaling noble houses and a fantasy world steeped in Jewish folklore.
With a dual POV you will follow both Mikira and Arielle. After Mikira's father is accused of practicing forbidden enchantments she makes a deal with house Kelbra. She must either win the annual horse races with an unenchanted horse or lose and risk the livelihood of her family. Arielle is tasked with using Kinnish magic to build a horse from clay (golem) for Mikira, which is forbidden. Every time Arielle performs an enchantment the battle with the voice inside her head becomes more evident.
There are high stakes, competitive horse racing, enchanted animals, political intrigue, and blossoming romance between more than one couple. This Dark Descent is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat with its fast pace and dark twists around every corner. A few of the twists made my jaw drop. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was for the lack of connection with most of the characters, but I'm hopeful that in the next book that will change.
I will be looking forward to the next book in this series! Highly recommend if you like morally grey characters, slow burn romance, political intrigue, animals, competition with high stakes, and a distinctive magic system.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC
With a dual POV you will follow both Mikira and Arielle. After Mikira's father is accused of practicing forbidden enchantments she makes a deal with house Kelbra. She must either win the annual horse races with an unenchanted horse or lose and risk the livelihood of her family. Arielle is tasked with using Kinnish magic to build a horse from clay (golem) for Mikira, which is forbidden. Every time Arielle performs an enchantment the battle with the voice inside her head becomes more evident.
There are high stakes, competitive horse racing, enchanted animals, political intrigue, and blossoming romance between more than one couple. This Dark Descent is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat with its fast pace and dark twists around every corner. A few of the twists made my jaw drop. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was for the lack of connection with most of the characters, but I'm hopeful that in the next book that will change.
I will be looking forward to the next book in this series! Highly recommend if you like morally grey characters, slow burn romance, political intrigue, animals, competition with high stakes, and a distinctive magic system.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC
September 24, 2023
THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WTF WTF 😭😂
I've only read middle grade from Kalyn Josephson, so while I was expecting something good, I also didn't know much yet about their writing style in YA. But wow wow wow wow.
The world-building was complex and enchanting, the characters were all compelling, the political intrigue was just suspenseful, the plot was carefully woven and definitely stress-inducing 😭😂 I was actually a little afraid I wouldn't really connect to this book because it's about horse-racing. But damn, how wrong was I. Because this was more than just horse-racing. It was about the bad and ugly sides of humanity, the immense power that the elites hold, about our own desires, and coming to terms with our own power and growing in confidence. This was just brilliant, riveting, and breathtaking.
(I also just loved seeing aroace/demi rep, as well as bi rep from the two main characters 🥹)
This took me in a rollercoaster ride I never really expected, and for that, this book is one of my favorites this year 😭
Full review in my blog soon!
(Received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023.
I've only read middle grade from Kalyn Josephson, so while I was expecting something good, I also didn't know much yet about their writing style in YA. But wow wow wow wow.
The world-building was complex and enchanting, the characters were all compelling, the political intrigue was just suspenseful, the plot was carefully woven and definitely stress-inducing 😭😂 I was actually a little afraid I wouldn't really connect to this book because it's about horse-racing. But damn, how wrong was I. Because this was more than just horse-racing. It was about the bad and ugly sides of humanity, the immense power that the elites hold, about our own desires, and coming to terms with our own power and growing in confidence. This was just brilliant, riveting, and breathtaking.
(I also just loved seeing aroace/demi rep, as well as bi rep from the two main characters 🥹)
This took me in a rollercoaster ride I never really expected, and for that, this book is one of my favorites this year 😭
Full review in my blog soon!
(Received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023.
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