Recent Reads: The Darkening by Sunya Mara

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara 
Series: (The Darkening #1)
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date:  July 5, 2022

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

In this thrilling and epic YA fantasy debut the only hope for a city trapped in the eye of a cursed storm lies with the daughter of failed revolutionaries and a prince terrified of his throne.

Vesper Vale is the daughter of revolutionaries. Failed revolutionaries. When her mother was caught by the queen’s soldiers, they gave her a choice: death by the hangman’s axe, or death by the Storm that surrounds the city and curses anyone it touches. She chose the Storm. And when the queen’s soldiers—led by a paranoid prince—catch up to Vesper’s father after twelve years on the run, Vesper will do whatever it takes to save him from sharing that fate.

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

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

Even cheat her way into his cold heart.

But when Vesper learns that there’s more to the story of her mother’s death, she’ll have to make a choice if she wants to save her city: trust the devious prince with her family’s secrets, or follow her mother’s footsteps into the Storm.

Review: 

Oh wow, I have some whiplash from this book. So much here... enemies to lovers to enemies, light versus dark, magic, 3 guys that bicker, secrets, lots of history and old city and so much lore and I need more or it. 

This YA 1st installment follows Vesper Vale. Her father (unkowingly to her) was a rebel and traitor to the kingdom and was located and taken. Vesper has to get him back but she has to work with the people that took him in order to do so. In addition, her world is being consumed by a storm darkness that is pushing slowly inwards, but getting quicker with time. She only has a limited time to save her father, save her part of the city that the storm is creeping in on, and inevitably find herself. 

Vesper is determined, but unsure of herself, she is plagues with pain, loss, loneliness, self-doubt, and stubborness, but she was a great main character. Casvian, or Cas, is a Wardana (think magical soldier), he is smug and a sour-puss and classist, but his bickering is entertaining and he comes around in a beautiful way. Dalca is also a Wardana but also a prince, doomed to take on the duty of Regia one day, meaning that he will sacrifice himself to their god of light to protect the city. He is so fearful and I liked his story but I am not sure that his character stayed true throughout the story. Finally, we have Izamel, or Iz, who is the 3rd Wardana and he is from the fifth ring like Vesper, he is fighting to help them survive and is also an undercover rebel. 

I really enjoyed the overall story here. Vesper had a goal that smoothly transitioned into a goal for the greater good as the sotry progressed and I appreciated that, however I felt that Iz's efforts got a little lost, sadly.  The romance portion was a little meh, I was ok with Vesper's choice but I think that the swift betayals and judgements were not necessarily in character at all times.

However my biggest pro/con is the worldbuilding, I wanted MORE! I felt that this was a good starting point but I have so many questions and I really hope as the series progresses that we get more detail. Like what/where is the Ven? Why is the old kingdom underground? Why and how is there this class system? how did it get to this point? I loved what we got but I want more.. so much more, fingers crossed for book two.