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To a Darker Shore
When her best friend is sacrificed to the devil, she’ll go to hell and back for him
Plain, poor, plus-size, and autistic, Alesta grew up trying to convince her beauty-obsessed kingdom that she’s too useful to be sacrificed. Their god blessed their island Soladisa as a haven for his followers, but to keep the devil at bay, the church sends a child sacrifice to hell’s entrance every season―often poor or plain girls just like Alesta.
With a head full of ideas for inventions, Alesta knows her best shot at making it to adulthood is to design something impressive for the festival exhibition so she might win a spot in the university―acceptance could guarantee her safety. But Alesta’s flying machine demonstration goes awry, a failure that will surely mean death. What happens is worse: Her best friend and heir to the throne, Kyrian, takes the blame expecting leniency but ends up sacrificed in her place.
To stop the sacrifices forever, Alesta plans to kill the monster that killed her friend. Prepared to save her kingdom or die trying, she travels to the depths of hell only to find Kyrian―alive, but monstrously transformed.
There is no escaping hell or their growing feelings for one another, and the deeper they descend into hell, the closer they come to uncovering a truth about the sacrifices that threatens to invoke the wrath of not only monsters but the gods as well
Plain, poor, plus-size, and autistic, Alesta grew up trying to convince her beauty-obsessed kingdom that she’s too useful to be sacrificed. Their god blessed their island Soladisa as a haven for his followers, but to keep the devil at bay, the church sends a child sacrifice to hell’s entrance every season―often poor or plain girls just like Alesta.
With a head full of ideas for inventions, Alesta knows her best shot at making it to adulthood is to design something impressive for the festival exhibition so she might win a spot in the university―acceptance could guarantee her safety. But Alesta’s flying machine demonstration goes awry, a failure that will surely mean death. What happens is worse: Her best friend and heir to the throne, Kyrian, takes the blame expecting leniency but ends up sacrificed in her place.
To stop the sacrifices forever, Alesta plans to kill the monster that killed her friend. Prepared to save her kingdom or die trying, she travels to the depths of hell only to find Kyrian―alive, but monstrously transformed.
There is no escaping hell or their growing feelings for one another, and the deeper they descend into hell, the closer they come to uncovering a truth about the sacrifices that threatens to invoke the wrath of not only monsters but the gods as well
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2024
40 people are currently reading
9530 people want to read
About the author
Leanne Schwartz
2 books103 followersLeanne Schwartz is the author of the young adult fantasies A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore, as well as the upcoming adult romcom My Kind of Trouble, writing as L. A. Schwartz. She has spent about half her life at either the library or the local theater, where she has played Lady Macbeth, Lady Capulet, and Hera―perhaps one reason she writes such vengeful, murderous girls. When she’s not writing, she can be found baking pizzelle and singing along to showtunes. She lives in California with her family.
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December 25, 2024let's have friends to lovers but for monster fuckers, as a treat
May 13, 2024
Right and wrong. Sin or virtue. Monstrous and holy.
This book was incredibly flawed and often read like fanfiction… but I ATE IT UP! The vibes were Battle of the Labyrinth meets The Hunger Games , with a sprinkle of yearning, a dash of religious critique, and a cast of autistic characters.
☀ The story was A LOT. The pacing might throw you off because the story starts out really simple with a clear goal and a clear way to get to said goal, then suddenly, towards the end, there are a bunch of "twists" (I'm putting this in quotes because personally, I wasn't too surprised by any of it) that do get kind of crazy. By that point I was already invested in the book enough that the sudden bombardment of events didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book.
☀ The setting? The monsters? Yes yes yes. When I started reading this book, I was picturing the bright sun over a quaint hill where the heroine was, well, fighting a fish-man-monster, then a couple of chapters later, we're literally thrust into hell and I was ALL for it. The atmosphere was dark and gritty, and I had such a blast reading about all of the deadly creatures (should I be saying this?) our MCs encountered.
☀ The characters truly made me love the book despite all of its flaws. I loved being in both Alesta's and Kyr's heads. While they (mostly Alesta) were difficult to like at some points, they were both realistic and relatable characters. Both of them were both weak yet strong, unsure yet determined, selfish yet righteous. It was empowering to see them battle with their own thoughts (and, well, monsters that were physically there) and try to come to terms with who they are.
☀ The romance was 😭😭😭 (yup, this is me being eloquent). The angst was angsting and I was all for it. There was mutual respect and admiration between the characters that was lovely and wholesome. Did I want to bash their heads together so that they would kiss? Yes.
☀ I appreciated the religious commentary here. Coming from someone who is no longer religious, I understand how devotion can really inspire someone's life, but also that belief shouldn't be offered up blindly. Not everything is black and white. Devotion should still come hand in hand with critical thinking and trust in oneself. I love how this book explored this pretty deeply, though Alesta's and Kyr's completely different ways of dealing with religion.
☀ The writing and the storytelling weren't groundbreaking, but I didn't really mind. Like I said, this did read like fanfiction sometimes — the set-ups were a little predictable, and there were some scenes that felt a little bit like fanservice — which might take you out of the story, but personally, I wasn't that bothered by it.
TLDR: If you're interested in angst-y Monster Love™, crazy character development, dangerous adventures, religious commentary... do give this a try!
3.5, rounded up.
April 29, 2024
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
To a Darker Shore was bold and exciting and so romantic! Our two protagonists were the star of the show – they were both so flawed and realistic, but they also learnt from their mistakes and always had good intentions. The miscommunication kinda killed me at times… it would swap POVs (which was wonderful), but both the protagonists were so wrong about the other’s opinion of them and ahh it was brutal!! But so satisfying once it was sorted out – they were such cutie patooties.
“something deep down inside Kyrian had finally refused to let go of what was most precious to him, had growled and snapped and clawed back at the idea of Alesta being taken away.”
I will say that I wasn’t all that shocked by plot twists, everything was easy to see coming, but I still enjoyed the reveals. The novel definitely had a lot of exciting plot adventure – from travelling to an island of monsters, to freeing gods, to taking down the government. I really liked the overarching theology and the almost Hunger Games vibes, with a child being sent to a monster infested island as a sacrifice every few months – a child picked by the gods for sinning. Super fascinating!
“But she was an island of enduring grief, and met them with a force just as fierce.
Alesta roared back. She broke off pieces of herself, charred dark and half-shattered, and dug them into the monster’s face. Dragged them down with all her might.”
And the rep was truly phenomenal – our fmc was fat and autistic, and she was brilliant. I loved the dedication and perseverance of the character, and her absolute intelligence and creativity, she was so easy to love! Our mmc was equally wonderful – he was also autistic, and so obsessed with the fmc, which I love to see. Also I think he was demi? Loved it!
“For you, I’d do more. I’d write it in the blood of a thousand monsters. Their blood or mine. I’d burn it into the sky with my own charring body.”
Overall, this was simultaneously a fascinating adventure, gorgeous romance, and a story of truly gorgeous characters! Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the copy provided.
~~~
pre-read review: THIS BOOK SOUNDS INSANEEEE autistic mc who's willing to do anything to save the boy she loves even though he has turned "monstrous"? I'M READY. also the cover is 10/10.
To a Darker Shore was bold and exciting and so romantic! Our two protagonists were the star of the show – they were both so flawed and realistic, but they also learnt from their mistakes and always had good intentions. The miscommunication kinda killed me at times… it would swap POVs (which was wonderful), but both the protagonists were so wrong about the other’s opinion of them and ahh it was brutal!! But so satisfying once it was sorted out – they were such cutie patooties.
“something deep down inside Kyrian had finally refused to let go of what was most precious to him, had growled and snapped and clawed back at the idea of Alesta being taken away.”
I will say that I wasn’t all that shocked by plot twists, everything was easy to see coming, but I still enjoyed the reveals. The novel definitely had a lot of exciting plot adventure – from travelling to an island of monsters, to freeing gods, to taking down the government. I really liked the overarching theology and the almost Hunger Games vibes, with a child being sent to a monster infested island as a sacrifice every few months – a child picked by the gods for sinning. Super fascinating!
“But she was an island of enduring grief, and met them with a force just as fierce.
Alesta roared back. She broke off pieces of herself, charred dark and half-shattered, and dug them into the monster’s face. Dragged them down with all her might.”
And the rep was truly phenomenal – our fmc was fat and autistic, and she was brilliant. I loved the dedication and perseverance of the character, and her absolute intelligence and creativity, she was so easy to love! Our mmc was equally wonderful – he was also autistic, and so obsessed with the fmc, which I love to see. Also I think he was demi? Loved it!
“For you, I’d do more. I’d write it in the blood of a thousand monsters. Their blood or mine. I’d burn it into the sky with my own charring body.”
Overall, this was simultaneously a fascinating adventure, gorgeous romance, and a story of truly gorgeous characters! Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the copy provided.
~~~
pre-read review: THIS BOOK SOUNDS INSANEEEE autistic mc who's willing to do anything to save the boy she loves even though he has turned "monstrous"? I'M READY. also the cover is 10/10.
September 2, 2023
To be honest, I think this book would have attacked me less if it simply punched me in the face.
The absolute giddiness that I feel over my love for it makes me want to lay on the floor and wax poetic at how truly wonderful every piece of it is. How utterly romantic, full of yearning and pining and idiots believing they're not good enough for each other when all they want to do is kiss. How distinctly bloody, filled with monsters and treks through the depths of hell that increase in violence the deeper the descent with a world so uniquely built and structured. A boiling frustration that simmers beneath it all, at a world that is not kind to those it deems unworthy. It is everything that I love, monsters and rage and the cluelessness that comes with best friends pretending they're not hopelessly in love.
It also so incredibly special to read a book with two autistic main characters, one of which was a fat girl. Seeing the depiction of burning self-hatred that comes with believing you are not what those around you want, of desperately wanting to mold yourself into something acceptable, to believing you are not enough because of your shape or your looks was impactful. Because it's the truth. But what really made me feel, what one of the most special parts about this book is, is learning the untruth of that self hatred, of finding the love that supports every single piece, stimming and awkwardness in social situations and special interests and fatness and all. Seeing the way that both Alesta and Kyr were depicted, how each of them holds so much admiration for each other, especially the parts the other sees as the most ugly, made me emotional. Them growing into themselves, into their entirety, made me want to lay on the floor.
To this whole book, it is everything that I love.
The absolute giddiness that I feel over my love for it makes me want to lay on the floor and wax poetic at how truly wonderful every piece of it is. How utterly romantic, full of yearning and pining and idiots believing they're not good enough for each other when all they want to do is kiss. How distinctly bloody, filled with monsters and treks through the depths of hell that increase in violence the deeper the descent with a world so uniquely built and structured. A boiling frustration that simmers beneath it all, at a world that is not kind to those it deems unworthy. It is everything that I love, monsters and rage and the cluelessness that comes with best friends pretending they're not hopelessly in love.
It also so incredibly special to read a book with two autistic main characters, one of which was a fat girl. Seeing the depiction of burning self-hatred that comes with believing you are not what those around you want, of desperately wanting to mold yourself into something acceptable, to believing you are not enough because of your shape or your looks was impactful. Because it's the truth. But what really made me feel, what one of the most special parts about this book is, is learning the untruth of that self hatred, of finding the love that supports every single piece, stimming and awkwardness in social situations and special interests and fatness and all. Seeing the way that both Alesta and Kyr were depicted, how each of them holds so much admiration for each other, especially the parts the other sees as the most ugly, made me emotional. Them growing into themselves, into their entirety, made me want to lay on the floor.
To this whole book, it is everything that I love.
May 4, 2024
*Review to come*
Pre-review comments below
MONSTER LOVE MONSTER LOVE MONSTER LOVE
(also queer, autistic plus sized leads ahhhhh 😭)
Update: THIS TAG LINE????? GIVING ME EVERYTHING I COULD EVER WANT????
"Dante’s Inferno meets the mythic atmosphere of Hadestown, in which an inventor goes to hell to kill the devil and save her best friend."
Pre-review comments below
MONSTER LOVE MONSTER LOVE MONSTER LOVE
(also queer, autistic plus sized leads ahhhhh 😭)
Update: THIS TAG LINE????? GIVING ME EVERYTHING I COULD EVER WANT????
"Dante’s Inferno meets the mythic atmosphere of Hadestown, in which an inventor goes to hell to kill the devil and save her best friend."
May 27, 2024
This is mostly disappointing because it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it just didn't land for me. While it definitely annoyed me less after ~75%, that's just too long to not be having a grand time.
Overall:
Fantastic concept, but I never once enjoyed the execution.
The Positives:
I like the rep. I like that she has a large body but it doesn't reflect on her character or abilities for those closest to her. I like that both of the MCs are autistic but still shown to be competent and good people. I like the mythology with the gods. And there are a few good quotes sprinkled throughout.
The Negatives:
Unfortunately my list of negatives is much longer.
- The biggest drawback is of course the repetition. I think this is likely tied to age demographic which I would best place at middle-grade (it would have been longer than most books I picked up at that age, but I feel like the writing complexity/themes/etc match what I was reading then). Not all books for young readers are repetitive, but this one really was and I wanted to pull out my hair a little bit; could only force myself to read in small doses before my frustration built too much.
- While it is refuted somewhat, I didn't like how much her body size is equated with sins and how by the end nobody of authority ever contradicts that. How, at the end of the book, even the gods are belittling her for her weight. I know that's not the intent, but I just don't think there was strong enough body positivity to balance it out. Ymmv.
- The religion was all tangled up in/similar to Catholic guilt. And I can imagine how natural it is in that environment (I had a similar religious upbringing) but the constant self-flagellation of the MCs was not just repetitive but annoying as hell.
- And that self-flagellation also spun into endless miscommunication. This is a friends to lovers where both of them have been carrying the torch for each other for years, but will spin every. single. action/conversation. to convince themselves that the other person could never love someone as wretched as themselves. I hate it I hate it I hate it. Friends to lovers belongs in the trash because it so often has this terrible dynamic and I want to set it on fire.
- It takes ~120 pages for her to finally get to hell. And I realized just how little happened to get there and just how much had been repeated. I wish that this was either cut by at least 50%, or re-tooled so that the adventure can start when she's going into hell.
- Pet peeve: I thought the synopsis and the storytelling were enough to know both MCs were autistic, so I don't particularly like that the book takes place in a historic ~Italy but they work in the modern term/concept of autism at the end to make sure it's explicit that both MCs have that rep. It's awkward and doesn't feel internally consistent with the world-building, especially since all Fantasy words in the rest of the novel are Italian-based.
Miscellaneous YA Musings:
I feel like I should've been suspecting there to be the fashion/dressup/makeover scene and ballroom dancing at court, but she was going to hell so it honestly didn't occur to me at all. And yet.
Overall:
Fantastic concept, but I never once enjoyed the execution.
The Positives:
I like the rep. I like that she has a large body but it doesn't reflect on her character or abilities for those closest to her. I like that both of the MCs are autistic but still shown to be competent and good people. I like the mythology with the gods. And there are a few good quotes sprinkled throughout.
The Negatives:
Unfortunately my list of negatives is much longer.
- The biggest drawback is of course the repetition. I think this is likely tied to age demographic which I would best place at middle-grade (it would have been longer than most books I picked up at that age, but I feel like the writing complexity/themes/etc match what I was reading then). Not all books for young readers are repetitive, but this one really was and I wanted to pull out my hair a little bit; could only force myself to read in small doses before my frustration built too much.
- While it is refuted somewhat, I didn't like how much her body size is equated with sins and how by the end nobody of authority ever contradicts that. How, at the end of the book, even the gods are belittling her for her weight. I know that's not the intent, but I just don't think there was strong enough body positivity to balance it out. Ymmv.
- The religion was all tangled up in/similar to Catholic guilt. And I can imagine how natural it is in that environment (I had a similar religious upbringing) but the constant self-flagellation of the MCs was not just repetitive but annoying as hell.
- And that self-flagellation also spun into endless miscommunication. This is a friends to lovers where both of them have been carrying the torch for each other for years, but will spin every. single. action/conversation. to convince themselves that the other person could never love someone as wretched as themselves. I hate it I hate it I hate it. Friends to lovers belongs in the trash because it so often has this terrible dynamic and I want to set it on fire.
- It takes ~120 pages for her to finally get to hell. And I realized just how little happened to get there and just how much had been repeated. I wish that this was either cut by at least 50%, or re-tooled so that the adventure can start when she's going into hell.
- Pet peeve: I thought the synopsis and the storytelling were enough to know both MCs were autistic, so I don't particularly like that the book takes place in a historic ~Italy but they work in the modern term/concept of autism at the end to make sure it's explicit that both MCs have that rep. It's awkward and doesn't feel internally consistent with the world-building, especially since all Fantasy words in the rest of the novel are Italian-based.
Miscellaneous YA Musings:
I feel like I should've been suspecting there to be the fashion/dressup/makeover scene and ballroom dancing at court, but she was going to hell so it honestly didn't occur to me at all. And yet.
December 2, 2023
To a Darker Shore is the book of my heart, a Hadestown-meets-Unreal Unearth, autistic/demi childhood-best-friends-to-monsters-to-lovers romantic fantasy; I loved writing it and so hope you enjoy reading it. I set out to fill Alesta and Kyrian's story with fun things—devils, flying machines, monstrous masquerades, oceans of yearning, and the biggest game of the floor is lava ever. It also includes examinations of fatphobia, oppressive beauty standards, ableism, autistic masking and unmasking, homophobia, purity culture, and religious trauma. So I'm just popping in to leave the content warnings, below, as ARCs are making their way out into the world!
Content warnings:
With that, I'll leave you all to it; enormous thanks to anyone who picks up this book and spends time with my ambitious girl and sad monster boy, and who takes the time to leave their thoughts; I appreciate you all so, so much.
<3 Leanne
Content warnings:
With that, I'll leave you all to it; enormous thanks to anyone who picks up this book and spends time with my ambitious girl and sad monster boy, and who takes the time to leave their thoughts; I appreciate you all so, so much.
<3 Leanne
March 10, 2024
When I heard To a Darker Shore be pitched as "Hadestown meets Dante's Inferno" with autistic MC's, I knew immediately that I needed to read this book. Hadestown is one of my favorite musicals, and most of you know I'm always searching for more autism rep, so this book was basically made for me. Having loved Leanne Schwartz's previous book, A Prayer for Vengeance, I was sure this book would not disappoint, and I'm happy to report that I was correct! From the moment I started reading, I was captivated by Alesta and Kyr, their dynamic, and the world they lived in.
Alesta and Kyr were two of the most compelling MCs I've read about in a while. Alesta was headstrong, intelligent, and full of vigor, while Kyr was more on the introverted side, but just as passionate. I don't want to say too much about him specially, because his character arc from beginning to end was truly excellent, and you should discover that for yourself. He went through so much in this story, and I felt every emotional up and down with him.
Because Alesta and Kyr both felt out of place in their lives, they were drawn to each other. Their strong friendship and close bond is the heart of this story, and watching them come to terms with their feelings and grow with each other was quite the roller coaster. I loved that we got both of their perspectives because it definitely enhanced the story. I don't think the book would've been as emotionally impactful if we didn't have both sides. But because we did, I was able to connect with both characters on a deeper level. And while allistic people may not realize this, it highlighted a lot of the struggles autistic people face when it comes to social cues and reading others. Alesta and Kyr were constantly misunderstanding the other's intentions when going off body language alone, and I thought this was a really subtle but impactful way of representing autism.
A lot of times in media, autistic traits are exaggerated, mostly for the benefit of neurotypical people, but I didn't feel that was the case at all for this book, and I loved that. Alesta and Kyr were both autistic, but many of their traits and mannerisms were very different from the other's, and in fact, in many cases, their traits were the exact opposite. This was fantastic, because it showed just how varied the spectrum can be and why it's called a spectrum in the first place. Personally, I related a lot with Kyr, but I also sometimes found myself reflected in Alesta, too. The fact that I'm seeing myself represented more and more these days is something I still can't quite believe, and I'm just so thankful these books exist.
Not only were Alesta and Kyr well-rounded characters, but all of the side characters were too. They stood out and added to the plot while still being their own people, which I always love to see. And speaking of plot, I loved it!! There were a few plot twists I figured out, which I was super proud of, but others took me by total surprise. The last twenty percent of the book was impossible to put down because of all the tension.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read To a Darker Shore. I hope lots of people will pick this book up, because it deserves to be read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Alesta and Kyr were two of the most compelling MCs I've read about in a while. Alesta was headstrong, intelligent, and full of vigor, while Kyr was more on the introverted side, but just as passionate. I don't want to say too much about him specially, because his character arc from beginning to end was truly excellent, and you should discover that for yourself. He went through so much in this story, and I felt every emotional up and down with him.
Because Alesta and Kyr both felt out of place in their lives, they were drawn to each other. Their strong friendship and close bond is the heart of this story, and watching them come to terms with their feelings and grow with each other was quite the roller coaster. I loved that we got both of their perspectives because it definitely enhanced the story. I don't think the book would've been as emotionally impactful if we didn't have both sides. But because we did, I was able to connect with both characters on a deeper level. And while allistic people may not realize this, it highlighted a lot of the struggles autistic people face when it comes to social cues and reading others. Alesta and Kyr were constantly misunderstanding the other's intentions when going off body language alone, and I thought this was a really subtle but impactful way of representing autism.
A lot of times in media, autistic traits are exaggerated, mostly for the benefit of neurotypical people, but I didn't feel that was the case at all for this book, and I loved that. Alesta and Kyr were both autistic, but many of their traits and mannerisms were very different from the other's, and in fact, in many cases, their traits were the exact opposite. This was fantastic, because it showed just how varied the spectrum can be and why it's called a spectrum in the first place. Personally, I related a lot with Kyr, but I also sometimes found myself reflected in Alesta, too. The fact that I'm seeing myself represented more and more these days is something I still can't quite believe, and I'm just so thankful these books exist.
Not only were Alesta and Kyr well-rounded characters, but all of the side characters were too. They stood out and added to the plot while still being their own people, which I always love to see. And speaking of plot, I loved it!! There were a few plot twists I figured out, which I was super proud of, but others took me by total surprise. The last twenty percent of the book was impossible to put down because of all the tension.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read To a Darker Shore. I hope lots of people will pick this book up, because it deserves to be read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 3, 2024
2.5
So much potential, but i fear i have never been so bored as i was for 90% of this book.
So much potential, but i fear i have never been so bored as i was for 90% of this book.
July 1, 2024
This is an upper YA fantasy that has rich world-building with themes of societal critique and personal identity. Alesta is a brilliant yet marginalized inventor and sheepherder whose best friend is the presumed heir to the kingdom. The story tackles complex themes and offers a unique, engaging premise that will leave readers both entertained and thoughtful.
Alesta is plain, poor, plus-size, and autistic and makes a phenomenal heroine. Kyr is demi and autistic himself. Trapped in a society that sacrifices its poor to a monstrous god across a poisonous sea. Her attempt to prove her worthiness through her inventions backfires, leading to her best friend being tithed in her place. Their journey through hell not only brings them closer but also unravels dark truths about the tithings and the gods themselves. I love all of the cute romances in this one. SO cute.
The themes of societal hypocrisy and the shunning of those who are different are explored in an interesting way. Schwartz deftly critiques how societies can hide their terrors behind a facade of piety and how religions can be manipulated for selfish ends. The world-building is another highlight. The island's landscape Alesta and Kyr navigate is amazingly unsettling and I enjoyed the monstrous society and the echoes against their own society. The escalation of twists towards the end, while a bit rapid, adds to the overall tension. The pacing does feel uneven, particularly with the sudden rush of twists towards the end.
This offers a unique premise, strong representation, and a thought-provoking critique of societal norms.
Alesta is plain, poor, plus-size, and autistic and makes a phenomenal heroine. Kyr is demi and autistic himself. Trapped in a society that sacrifices its poor to a monstrous god across a poisonous sea. Her attempt to prove her worthiness through her inventions backfires, leading to her best friend being tithed in her place. Their journey through hell not only brings them closer but also unravels dark truths about the tithings and the gods themselves. I love all of the cute romances in this one. SO cute.
The themes of societal hypocrisy and the shunning of those who are different are explored in an interesting way. Schwartz deftly critiques how societies can hide their terrors behind a facade of piety and how religions can be manipulated for selfish ends. The world-building is another highlight. The island's landscape Alesta and Kyr navigate is amazingly unsettling and I enjoyed the monstrous society and the echoes against their own society. The escalation of twists towards the end, while a bit rapid, adds to the overall tension. The pacing does feel uneven, particularly with the sudden rush of twists towards the end.
This offers a unique premise, strong representation, and a thought-provoking critique of societal norms.
July 11, 2024
I really enjoyed the characters. Alestra is an icon and she is such a fun character to follow. Kyrian as well is very layered and I loved him. The central romance really worked for me and I very much enjoyed the yearning. The side characters were also really enjoyable and I even would have liked to get a little bit more of their story.
One thing I found a bit weaker was the setting. The atmosphere was not very vivid to me, for example when going through Orroccio there are multiple Strata of hell but I feel like we never really felt the shift per layer and that would have been a nice touch. Also the fight scenes were not always very clear to me. My final critique is that I would have liked to have some reveals be a little more interwoven throughout the story rather than having a bit of exposition towards the end. But this is a minor thing since I very much liked the actual reveal.
Some more things I enjoyed in this book: the chapter titles! I looooove having chapter titles, more books should include them! I also found the pacing to be really good, I was always along for the ride and excited about every twist and turn! Finally, the diverse cast of characters with a plus sized autistic female lead was such a breath of fresh air and more representation is always a win!
I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in an exciting quest-like story with a loveable romance, some religious commentary, and a whole lot of adventure
One thing I found a bit weaker was the setting. The atmosphere was not very vivid to me, for example when going through Orroccio there are multiple Strata of hell but I feel like we never really felt the shift per layer and that would have been a nice touch. Also the fight scenes were not always very clear to me. My final critique is that I would have liked to have some reveals be a little more interwoven throughout the story rather than having a bit of exposition towards the end. But this is a minor thing since I very much liked the actual reveal.
Some more things I enjoyed in this book: the chapter titles! I looooove having chapter titles, more books should include them! I also found the pacing to be really good, I was always along for the ride and excited about every twist and turn! Finally, the diverse cast of characters with a plus sized autistic female lead was such a breath of fresh air and more representation is always a win!
I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in an exciting quest-like story with a loveable romance, some religious commentary, and a whole lot of adventure
Read
August 4, 2024DNF @ 36%
i'm so BORED
i'm so BORED
April 21, 2024
Got an arc from the publisher
Okay this was a lot of fun and I enjoyed this more than the authors debut (which I still had fun with!) the relationship between the two main characters is so good, especially since I’m such a sucker for friends to lovers.
The middle when they were traveling through hell was a bit repetitive, but I really liked the beginning and end. I did not expect Lesbian Moana at the end but okay! I can dig it!
Okay this was a lot of fun and I enjoyed this more than the authors debut (which I still had fun with!) the relationship between the two main characters is so good, especially since I’m such a sucker for friends to lovers.
The middle when they were traveling through hell was a bit repetitive, but I really liked the beginning and end. I did not expect Lesbian Moana at the end but okay! I can dig it!
August 15, 2023
Both of Leanne Schwartz's forthcoming novels are amazing, but I've been trying to read and review 2024 releases, so I'm going to start by screaming about this one. Because, you see, I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and was like, "Cool. Yeah, this is neat. Just gonna open it up and read a page or two, sample the ~vibes.~"
Readers, I DEVOURED it.
With stunning and evocative prose, characters you'd follow to hell and back, and a world that feels tangible and lived-in, this is a book every reader should give themselves the gift of consuming.
Seriously, though, the characters! I could not be happier about following Alesta and Kyr to hell. 10/10, would recommend. I cannot wait for this book to reach the legions of fans whose voices will drown mine out, but until then, I'll be here screaming about it.
Readers, I DEVOURED it.
With stunning and evocative prose, characters you'd follow to hell and back, and a world that feels tangible and lived-in, this is a book every reader should give themselves the gift of consuming.
Seriously, though, the characters! I could not be happier about following Alesta and Kyr to hell. 10/10, would recommend. I cannot wait for this book to reach the legions of fans whose voices will drown mine out, but until then, I'll be here screaming about it.
July 12, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Unfortunately, this book didn't connect with me the way it has with others, and that's okay, it just wasn't the book for me. I felt like it was quite repetitive, and I didn't gel with the writing style. However, there was a lot of action, and the concept was certainly intriguing. The representation was also really strong as well, told from the perspective of two autistic characters, and I think this was handled well, but I just really couldn't get past how repetitive everything was, particularly the inner dialogues.
Unfortunately, this book didn't connect with me the way it has with others, and that's okay, it just wasn't the book for me. I felt like it was quite repetitive, and I didn't gel with the writing style. However, there was a lot of action, and the concept was certainly intriguing. The representation was also really strong as well, told from the perspective of two autistic characters, and I think this was handled well, but I just really couldn't get past how repetitive everything was, particularly the inner dialogues.
April 13, 2024
First, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.
This book just didn’t resonate with me as much as it did for others, judging by the reviews.
I really appreciate the representation - that was one of the best parts of this book! - but the actual execution of plot, character development, and prose fell flat for me.
The story just felt sort of all over the place and the “wrap up” at the end felt forced and frankly a little unnecessary; but I don’t need a book to finished all wrapped up with a bow tie to make me happy.
I think this book is important for what it stands for and its representation, and I’m not necessarily against reading something else by this author; I think that a lot of YA is just only meh to me. I think part of this is my age - but points above are still relevant regardless.
If you’re interested I would say go for it - but for me, this was just an okay book.
This book just didn’t resonate with me as much as it did for others, judging by the reviews.
I really appreciate the representation - that was one of the best parts of this book! - but the actual execution of plot, character development, and prose fell flat for me.
The story just felt sort of all over the place and the “wrap up” at the end felt forced and frankly a little unnecessary; but I don’t need a book to finished all wrapped up with a bow tie to make me happy.
I think this book is important for what it stands for and its representation, and I’m not necessarily against reading something else by this author; I think that a lot of YA is just only meh to me. I think part of this is my age - but points above are still relevant regardless.
If you’re interested I would say go for it - but for me, this was just an okay book.
April 13, 2024
3.5/5 rounding up to 4.
This one was actually pretty good! YA Fantasy has been VERY hit or miss for me, so I was genuinely surprised I enjoyed this one as much as I did, especially since I had a rough time getting through the first 20%.
Definitely a fan of the autistic and "fat" character representation! The story was interesting enough and had a unique way of combining fantasy and mythology elements to tell a new story. I think this going to be a hit among folks looking for more diversity in the books they read, particularly in the fantasy genre where the main characters tend to all be very similar. I think the characterizations and the way we explored them was VERY well done, and a much-needed addition to the genre.
However, this was VERY slow until the last maybe 20% for me, and I was bored a LOT while reading it--The first 15% could have been cut down to 5-7% in length and I don't think anything would have been lost to the story. There are definitely areas where the writing feels less polished, and we kind of beat a dead horse after awhile making SURE you know that the FMC is "fat and ugly." I've noticed this a lot in YA novels recently when we're breaking out of the mold of the "gorgeous FMC who's great at everything" and instead have someone who is unconventionally attractive/ugly/fat/different--we have to hear about it every two pages to make sure we get it (looking at you too, Starling House!).
Personally, I was pulled out of the story too much due to the pacing and inconsistent writing/repetitive character descriptions and thoughts to say I LOVED it. I think we could have used another round of editing to adjust the pacing and phrasing of large sections of the book, and I would have liked it a lot more. But I still generally enjoyed it and think that for folks that LOVE YA fantasy stories, this will be a great read!
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!
This one was actually pretty good! YA Fantasy has been VERY hit or miss for me, so I was genuinely surprised I enjoyed this one as much as I did, especially since I had a rough time getting through the first 20%.
Definitely a fan of the autistic and "fat" character representation! The story was interesting enough and had a unique way of combining fantasy and mythology elements to tell a new story. I think this going to be a hit among folks looking for more diversity in the books they read, particularly in the fantasy genre where the main characters tend to all be very similar. I think the characterizations and the way we explored them was VERY well done, and a much-needed addition to the genre.
However, this was VERY slow until the last maybe 20% for me, and I was bored a LOT while reading it--The first 15% could have been cut down to 5-7% in length and I don't think anything would have been lost to the story. There are definitely areas where the writing feels less polished, and we kind of beat a dead horse after awhile making SURE you know that the FMC is "fat and ugly." I've noticed this a lot in YA novels recently when we're breaking out of the mold of the "gorgeous FMC who's great at everything" and instead have someone who is unconventionally attractive/ugly/fat/different--we have to hear about it every two pages to make sure we get it (looking at you too, Starling House!).
Personally, I was pulled out of the story too much due to the pacing and inconsistent writing/repetitive character descriptions and thoughts to say I LOVED it. I think we could have used another round of editing to adjust the pacing and phrasing of large sections of the book, and I would have liked it a lot more. But I still generally enjoyed it and think that for folks that LOVE YA fantasy stories, this will be a great read!
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!
April 2, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It represented to me all the things wrong in the world. How the status quo shun different people than them. How the politics lead you into the wrong direction to suit them. Same thing with religious bias, and how some religions do have bad people in them that lie tou you to get what they want in the name of their God. Read the book then you'll understand what I mean. The main character is Alesta, she has low confidence and low self esteem, due to fact that the people in her kingdom look down upon her. She isn't pretty, overweight, and poor, therefore she isn't very valuable to the kingdom in their opinion. She is also Autistic. She has a brilliant mind, loves the people she cares about, and tries to obey the kingdoms religion, even when it sounds like nonsense. Every 3 months, the kingdom and religious priests demand a sacrifice to the demon to keep the kingdom safe. Alesta has a best friend Kyrian, who is the next heir to the throne. He too is slightly autistic. To prove themselves worthy of not being a sacrifice, each youth has to invent something that will benefit the community. Alesta's invention was magnificent until it failed. Nobles normally never get sacrificed so Kyrian says it's his failure, but he gets sacrificed to the demon anyway. Alesta is heart broken and determined to go to the bowels of hell to bring him home for her mistake. It is a colorful story, with lots of highly imaginative creatures along the way. It's about doing the right thing, helping those you love, and realizing we all have something to offer the world. This is a must read book. You will be fighting alongside the main character while your reading this book. Kudos to the author for her great imagination and a wonderful book. Go read it!!!
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May 24, 2025Kyrian from To a Darker Shore is demisexual!
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May 21, 2024
*2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this story but I didn't vibe with the writing style. It was very hard to read, with too many unnecessary descriptions imo, and I constantly wanted to DNF it. Ultimately I stuck through to the end--which wasn't that bad, though I did guess most of plot twists halfway through.
I can see people loving this book, but the writing style just wasn't for me.
I really wanted to love this story but I didn't vibe with the writing style. It was very hard to read, with too many unnecessary descriptions imo, and I constantly wanted to DNF it. Ultimately I stuck through to the end--which wasn't that bad, though I did guess most of plot twists halfway through.
I can see people loving this book, but the writing style just wasn't for me.
April 30, 2024
Words are my thing. I'm a writer and a voracious reader and a former professor and... I am at a loss as to how to describe this wonderful book.
Full, I think. It's full of action and friendship, tension and sacrifice, duty and devotion and feelings spoken and unspoken. Full of thought about religion and mythology and their origins, and the uses--good and bad--to which they have been put. It's full of questioning things you have always been taught to believe about right and wrong, about yourself and your world, about monstrousness and who deserves a decent life. It's about a willingness to learn and change and to do what's right, even if you think it might kill you. And finally, it's about the importance of letting people be who they are and love who they love, and the horrors that can result when the world tries to deny that love.
I knew, going in, that To a Darker Shore was about a young, fat, autistic woman who goes into hell to rescue her best friend/beloved, who is the autistic heir to the throne. It quickly became apparent that those two loved each other and that this would be a love story, but there was SO MUCH MORE to it. The internal struggles of the characters are as obvious as the external dangers they face in a world Schwartz describes so vividly I can still see it behind my eyelids. Many times I wondered whether/how they'd be able to overcome the seemingly impossible challenges thrown at them, both on their home island and on the island of the monsters. Alesta and Kyr were each so determined to save the other that I feared one or both of them would die.
At one point Schwartz threw in a plot twist that caught me totally off guard, and then I was able to see what the next twist would be, but not any way that the characters could survive to learn the truth about their world, much less keep the promise they need to keep to prevent the devil from destroying everything.
To a Darker Shore is beautifully written and even more beautifully thought out and plotted. I write this knowing that tomorrow (April 30) is its publication date. I hope EVERYONE gets their hands on a copy, so that I won't be alone in thinking about it way into the night.
11 stars, rounded down to 5 because stupid inadequate rating system.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for granting me an Advance Review Copy of this book. I will be seeking out more of Schwartz's writings! These opinions are entirely my own.
Full, I think. It's full of action and friendship, tension and sacrifice, duty and devotion and feelings spoken and unspoken. Full of thought about religion and mythology and their origins, and the uses--good and bad--to which they have been put. It's full of questioning things you have always been taught to believe about right and wrong, about yourself and your world, about monstrousness and who deserves a decent life. It's about a willingness to learn and change and to do what's right, even if you think it might kill you. And finally, it's about the importance of letting people be who they are and love who they love, and the horrors that can result when the world tries to deny that love.
I knew, going in, that To a Darker Shore was about a young, fat, autistic woman who goes into hell to rescue her best friend/beloved, who is the autistic heir to the throne. It quickly became apparent that those two loved each other and that this would be a love story, but there was SO MUCH MORE to it. The internal struggles of the characters are as obvious as the external dangers they face in a world Schwartz describes so vividly I can still see it behind my eyelids. Many times I wondered whether/how they'd be able to overcome the seemingly impossible challenges thrown at them, both on their home island and on the island of the monsters. Alesta and Kyr were each so determined to save the other that I feared one or both of them would die.
At one point Schwartz threw in a plot twist that caught me totally off guard, and then I was able to see what the next twist would be, but not any way that the characters could survive to learn the truth about their world, much less keep the promise they need to keep to prevent the devil from destroying everything.
To a Darker Shore is beautifully written and even more beautifully thought out and plotted. I write this knowing that tomorrow (April 30) is its publication date. I hope EVERYONE gets their hands on a copy, so that I won't be alone in thinking about it way into the night.
11 stars, rounded down to 5 because stupid inadequate rating system.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for granting me an Advance Review Copy of this book. I will be seeking out more of Schwartz's writings! These opinions are entirely my own.
December 1, 2023
ARC Review:
To a Darker Shore is full to the brim of what I love in a book! It has well-developed characters, angst, mutual pining, critiques of religion, monsters, and poignant themes.
In Soladisa, either you’re virtuous and useful or you end up food for a monster. What keeps the island country safe is a deal struck long ago: each tithing, a sinful teenager is sacrificed to a horrible monster across the poison sea in hell. Seventeen-year-old Alesta—plain, poor, plus-sized, and autistic—is desperate for one of her inventions to be deemed worthy enough to keep her from being tithed. When her latest invention goes awry, Kyr (her best friend and the kingdom’s heir) takes the blame, hoping for leniency, only to be tithed in her place. Angry and grieving, Alesta travels to hell to end the sacrifices forever, only to find her friend monstrously transformed. As their feelings for each other grow, Alesta and Kyr race to escape hell and find the truth behind the tithes.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Alesta and Kyr’s story. Both of their POVs are engaging, and their fierce determination to protect one another will have readers eager for them to confess their feelings to each other. Schwartz’s descriptions have so much imagery, she raises the stakes incredibly well, and they skillfully tackle themes like self-acceptance and that one’s worth is not determined by their utility. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy that’s full of heart, I highly recommend To a Darker Shore!
Content warnings: light gore and body horror, some bullying/sizeist body talk, conflict with a parent over asking autism (internalized but ultimately rejected by the main characters), societal/parental homophobia (with happy outcomes), claustrophobic panic attacks, implied suicidal ideation, illness, loss, and grief
To a Darker Shore is full to the brim of what I love in a book! It has well-developed characters, angst, mutual pining, critiques of religion, monsters, and poignant themes.
In Soladisa, either you’re virtuous and useful or you end up food for a monster. What keeps the island country safe is a deal struck long ago: each tithing, a sinful teenager is sacrificed to a horrible monster across the poison sea in hell. Seventeen-year-old Alesta—plain, poor, plus-sized, and autistic—is desperate for one of her inventions to be deemed worthy enough to keep her from being tithed. When her latest invention goes awry, Kyr (her best friend and the kingdom’s heir) takes the blame, hoping for leniency, only to be tithed in her place. Angry and grieving, Alesta travels to hell to end the sacrifices forever, only to find her friend monstrously transformed. As their feelings for each other grow, Alesta and Kyr race to escape hell and find the truth behind the tithes.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Alesta and Kyr’s story. Both of their POVs are engaging, and their fierce determination to protect one another will have readers eager for them to confess their feelings to each other. Schwartz’s descriptions have so much imagery, she raises the stakes incredibly well, and they skillfully tackle themes like self-acceptance and that one’s worth is not determined by their utility. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy that’s full of heart, I highly recommend To a Darker Shore!
Content warnings: light gore and body horror, some bullying/sizeist body talk, conflict with a parent over asking autism (internalized but ultimately rejected by the main characters), societal/parental homophobia (with happy outcomes), claustrophobic panic attacks, implied suicidal ideation, illness, loss, and grief
July 31, 2024
3.75 stars! I was originally bummed to find out this was a romantasy after picking it up based on the hellish setting and the promise of a slightly vengeful (autistic) protagonist, but strangely, the romance was one of the strongest parts of the book! Alesta and Kyr’s bond was solid, their dynamic evidence of just how long-lasting it had been. The only downside was the nickname for Alesta, though…”my perfect calamity”?? The most painfully romantasy nickname I’ve heard in a while, even if I could gather the meaning. But at least it was used sparingly. (There were a couple not-so-subtle parallels to it throughout though, haha)
And one of the book’s messages—the one focused around how beauty can be unconventional—was executed, in part, through the eyes of yearning, demisexual Kyr. Something about using acespec characters for a romance that ties into different ways people can be beautiful and attractive just…scratches my brain?!?! (also I don’t know if Alesta is also acespec, but this could also probably be applied to how she viewed Kyr?)
But the plot itself was nothing to write home about. The lack of noticeable shifts between the different circles of hell weakened the setting, there was a commitment to keeping modern queer terminology out of this because of the time period but not the term “autistic” for some reason????, and there was unfortunately little of the pantheon explored by the end. (I get that Soladisa’s faith and knowledge was revealed to be pretty limited and often incorrect, but also, the information provided by Lia felt too last-minute to be a series of twists that could stick with me.) The antagonist was also predictable, and monologued for far too long. I was kind of waiting for him to get mauled by a monster or something, but alas.
Things I did like, though: For one, Alesta and Kyr have very different forms of autism, which influences their POVs and how they’re ostracized. I appreciated seeing different ends of the autism spectrum! I felt that was represented well. Secondly, Alesta was a solid protagonist. I usually find self-love arcs in YA to be very repetitive, boring or/and annoying, but hers brought a refreshing subversion to the constant self-sacrifices she made. It was nice to see one single thought she made in a moment of desperation eventually shape into development. Also, Alesta was a great example of writing an intelligent female character without dumbing down the rest of the cast.
I keep my rating a little low despite singing my praises, because so much of this was meant to be centered around deconstructing oppressive religious views, and offering commentary, but it all felt very surface level. There wasn’t anything thought-provoking to be found in the text. At all.
Still, through its flaws, I was able to giggle in glee over yearning-filled romance, and get sucked into the tenseness of every monstrous threat until I lost track of the pages. I think that is worth something.
And one of the book’s messages—the one focused around how beauty can be unconventional—was executed, in part, through the eyes of yearning, demisexual Kyr. Something about using acespec characters for a romance that ties into different ways people can be beautiful and attractive just…scratches my brain?!?! (also I don’t know if Alesta is also acespec, but this could also probably be applied to how she viewed Kyr?)
But the plot itself was nothing to write home about. The lack of noticeable shifts between the different circles of hell weakened the setting, there was a commitment to keeping modern queer terminology out of this because of the time period but not the term “autistic” for some reason????, and there was unfortunately little of the pantheon explored by the end. (I get that Soladisa’s faith and knowledge was revealed to be pretty limited and often incorrect, but also, the information provided by Lia felt too last-minute to be a series of twists that could stick with me.) The antagonist was also predictable, and monologued for far too long. I was kind of waiting for him to get mauled by a monster or something, but alas.
Things I did like, though: For one, Alesta and Kyr have very different forms of autism, which influences their POVs and how they’re ostracized. I appreciated seeing different ends of the autism spectrum! I felt that was represented well. Secondly, Alesta was a solid protagonist. I usually find self-love arcs in YA to be very repetitive, boring or/and annoying, but hers brought a refreshing subversion to the constant self-sacrifices she made. It was nice to see one single thought she made in a moment of desperation eventually shape into development. Also, Alesta was a great example of writing an intelligent female character without dumbing down the rest of the cast.
I keep my rating a little low despite singing my praises, because so much of this was meant to be centered around deconstructing oppressive religious views, and offering commentary, but it all felt very surface level. There wasn’t anything thought-provoking to be found in the text. At all.
Still, through its flaws, I was able to giggle in glee over yearning-filled romance, and get sucked into the tenseness of every monstrous threat until I lost track of the pages. I think that is worth something.
March 21, 2024
I already knew it after I read A Prayer for Vengeance, but this book confirmed it: I'm a big fan of Leanne Schwartz's work. The author has a unique and imaginative way of mixing mythology with fantasy, creating worlds that feel both fresh and familiar.
To A Darker Shore is a lush book, with pacing and structure that don't always do what you expect them to do next, and I found this to be a very refreshing and immersive experience. I absolutely loved the autistic main characters, and the discussions of beauty standards, fat phobia, allonormativity and neurodivergence — for all its differences, the world of Soladisa is not so unlike ours, in the sense that people who look and behave differently will never be given the benefit of a doubt. This book does a great job of asking questions such as "who is the monster here" and actually giving succinct and unflinching answers.
But it's also a very fun and satisfying read (for all its dark and gory moments), and I would gladly return in this world for more. My only regret is that this book didn't exist when I was a fat, neurodivergent teenager — but I'm so happy that young readers today can have this kind of thoughtful and nuanced rep.
Note: there's a very satisfying amount of lesbians in this book, which only made it better in my eyes.
P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
To A Darker Shore is a lush book, with pacing and structure that don't always do what you expect them to do next, and I found this to be a very refreshing and immersive experience. I absolutely loved the autistic main characters, and the discussions of beauty standards, fat phobia, allonormativity and neurodivergence — for all its differences, the world of Soladisa is not so unlike ours, in the sense that people who look and behave differently will never be given the benefit of a doubt. This book does a great job of asking questions such as "who is the monster here" and actually giving succinct and unflinching answers.
But it's also a very fun and satisfying read (for all its dark and gory moments), and I would gladly return in this world for more. My only regret is that this book didn't exist when I was a fat, neurodivergent teenager — but I'm so happy that young readers today can have this kind of thoughtful and nuanced rep.
Note: there's a very satisfying amount of lesbians in this book, which only made it better in my eyes.
P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2025
Alesta just wanted to prove to her beauty-obsessed people that she was worthy of not being sacrificed. Instead, her best friend saves her from her fate and goes to hell in her place. Blinded by rage, Alesta sets out to kill the devil and thus put an end to the sacrifices once and for all ...
I actually really enjoy reading in English precisely because of this kind of representation. But here I feel like I would have liked the book better in my mothertongue (German). Some of the sentences are really convoluted, and I found the descriptions particularly difficult to grasp.
Kyr and Alesta are great, and there are some astonishing quotes, but somehing was just missing for me. The book was mostly nice, with really good autistic representation.
And then the ending hit me. That just made it incredibly good for me. If the book were shorter overall and the main characters had a bit more depth, it would be the read of the month. like this, I'm giving it a solid four stars.
I actually really enjoy reading in English precisely because of this kind of representation. But here I feel like I would have liked the book better in my mothertongue (German). Some of the sentences are really convoluted, and I found the descriptions particularly difficult to grasp.
Kyr and Alesta are great, and there are some astonishing quotes, but somehing was just missing for me. The book was mostly nice, with really good autistic representation.
And then the ending hit me. That just made it incredibly good for me. If the book were shorter overall and the main characters had a bit more depth, it would be the read of the month. like this, I'm giving it a solid four stars.
September 20, 2024
When I picked this book up from the library, I legit said this book is going to become my whole personality.
I promised I would always be honest and I am going to say that this one didn’t work for me like I had expected. I am going to share what I loved and what was a struggle so you can decide if this might be just what you need.
I loved the storyline and plot. It was fascinating and it is paced throughout the book so you are not getting info-dumping, which was really nice. I loved that the FMC is authentically herself. She is confident in her body, she does face some comments from others at times in the story but it pretty body neutral. I LOVED seeing a FMC that was plus sized in fantasy, it is represented on the cover and in the pages. She is also a bad a$$ in the book and using her inventions towards being able to overthrow the system that led to so many to be sacrificed to the monsters. I found the themes about who is sacrificed and why, the discussion of good vs evil, monsters vs humans and when monsters work with the humans/ see humans as the monsters.
I struggled to connect with the characters. This is a very plot driven story and a lot of emphasis was put in on the plot and not as much into the emotions of the characters to be able to connect with them. I wanted that. I was missing that personally, but I know some love a good plot driven story so if that is you, this one might be for you!
I promised I would always be honest and I am going to say that this one didn’t work for me like I had expected. I am going to share what I loved and what was a struggle so you can decide if this might be just what you need.
I loved the storyline and plot. It was fascinating and it is paced throughout the book so you are not getting info-dumping, which was really nice. I loved that the FMC is authentically herself. She is confident in her body, she does face some comments from others at times in the story but it pretty body neutral. I LOVED seeing a FMC that was plus sized in fantasy, it is represented on the cover and in the pages. She is also a bad a$$ in the book and using her inventions towards being able to overthrow the system that led to so many to be sacrificed to the monsters. I found the themes about who is sacrificed and why, the discussion of good vs evil, monsters vs humans and when monsters work with the humans/ see humans as the monsters.
I struggled to connect with the characters. This is a very plot driven story and a lot of emphasis was put in on the plot and not as much into the emotions of the characters to be able to connect with them. I wanted that. I was missing that personally, but I know some love a good plot driven story so if that is you, this one might be for you!
April 21, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley as well as my tour group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
The beginning was a little slow, but I love the world building here. The MCs of Lessie and Kyr were very strong. I loved the plus size and autistic rep. They were also just so cute together. This gives “love you to hell and back” a real meaning. Lessie would risk everything to avenge Kyrian and then bring him back when she knew he was alive. Even if he was a monster. They could be monsters together. It was so sweet. The side characters of Rina and Lor were also very sweet. The bad guy was obviously the bad guy but it didn’t take away from how much I hated them. I found myself becoming attached to everyone and hoping for their survival and safety.
The beginning was a little slow, but I love the world building here. The MCs of Lessie and Kyr were very strong. I loved the plus size and autistic rep. They were also just so cute together. This gives “love you to hell and back” a real meaning. Lessie would risk everything to avenge Kyrian and then bring him back when she knew he was alive. Even if he was a monster. They could be monsters together. It was so sweet. The side characters of Rina and Lor were also very sweet. The bad guy was obviously the bad guy but it didn’t take away from how much I hated them. I found myself becoming attached to everyone and hoping for their survival and safety.
December 5, 2025
2.5 ?
The pace and the plot were all over the place.
I found the blatant fat shaming quite shameful as even the gods made her feel bad for her body type. It’s weird that this happened in a YA book as no message such as “you’re beautiful no matter what” wasn’t uttered once. Just devilish things whatsoever.
I was bored throughout the whole things, there was a lot of repetition and this isn’t necessary to make your point across, it’s possible to reel in the reader without repeating everything every time. The plot twist was okay but still, I couldn’t be excited as everything was bland.
The pace and the plot were all over the place.
I found the blatant fat shaming quite shameful as even the gods made her feel bad for her body type. It’s weird that this happened in a YA book as no message such as “you’re beautiful no matter what” wasn’t uttered once. Just devilish things whatsoever.
I was bored throughout the whole things, there was a lot of repetition and this isn’t necessary to make your point across, it’s possible to reel in the reader without repeating everything every time. The plot twist was okay but still, I couldn’t be excited as everything was bland.
May 6, 2024
This was a really good book with a unique fantasy setting reminiscent of Ancient Greece and a main character who is autistic and fat. I love the way that the autism representation is such that we can tell she’s autistic even without any of the typical ways a character is autistically coded or any actual autism plotline.
The only thing that I thought this book could have done differently is that a lot of the plot twists are found out very conveniently (ie visions), but overall the whole plot was unique and gripping, and of course a lot of what’s really going on is not what it seemed.
The only thing that I thought this book could have done differently is that a lot of the plot twists are found out very conveniently (ie visions), but overall the whole plot was unique and gripping, and of course a lot of what’s really going on is not what it seemed.
August 14, 2024
4.5! This was great and I highly recommend it to anyone! The worldbuilding was a tad bit confusing but everything did piece together at the end and I just had a great time reading it!
We love seeing on page autistic representation!! In both main characters!! And they’re different!! It’s great and I loved it so much
We love seeing on page autistic representation!! In both main characters!! And they’re different!! It’s great and I loved it so much
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