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The Dark Within Us
The Dark Within Us brings an inventive, funny
and quirky reimagining of a modern version of hell.
Jenny's felt broken for a long time.
Luc has his own issues - you would too if your family ruled Hell.
When they meet at a party, sparks fly. She sees a handsome devil.
He sees a lost soul.
Both sense trouble.
But it will take a journey to the very depths of the underworld
to bring a girl and a demon together . . .
The stunning debut novel from the Times/Chicken
House Children’s Competition 2022 Chairman’s Choice
Prize winner, Jess Popplewell.
Draws on the author’s own experience of homelessness,
making this a powerful authentic story.
Dante’s Inferno meets Euphoria
in this fresh contemporary YA.
and quirky reimagining of a modern version of hell.
Jenny's felt broken for a long time.
Luc has his own issues - you would too if your family ruled Hell.
When they meet at a party, sparks fly. She sees a handsome devil.
He sees a lost soul.
Both sense trouble.
But it will take a journey to the very depths of the underworld
to bring a girl and a demon together . . .
The stunning debut novel from the Times/Chicken
House Children’s Competition 2022 Chairman’s Choice
Prize winner, Jess Popplewell.
Draws on the author’s own experience of homelessness,
making this a powerful authentic story.
Dante’s Inferno meets Euphoria
in this fresh contemporary YA.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 25, 2025
4.5
This was sooooo good! I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting to. It’s very funny, set in a reimagining of hell that I loved getting to explore. There are some creepy, eerie moments, all offset by a sense of humour and charm that worked so well. I was completely gripped, and invested not only in our main character Jenny but also all of the side characters as well. Overall a great read!
This was sooooo good! I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting to. It’s very funny, set in a reimagining of hell that I loved getting to explore. There are some creepy, eerie moments, all offset by a sense of humour and charm that worked so well. I was completely gripped, and invested not only in our main character Jenny but also all of the side characters as well. Overall a great read!
June 5, 2024
I loved this book! From the atmospheric and subtly terrifying opening, to the last page.
There’s a brilliant sense of humour beneath the dialogue and inner thoughts of Jenny which made me love that character so much, and which made the scary scenes terrifying as the tone switched up. (I also LOVE Jenny’s taste in music! Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco? Yes!).
Luc is a brilliant character with a fascinating backstory that intertwines with Jenny’s. They work so well together.
Phenomenally written, action, romance, humour, twists and turns! People say “I couldn’t put it down!” So often that it’s become a cliché, but I really couldn’t put it down. The Dark Within Us deserves to be massive.
There’s a brilliant sense of humour beneath the dialogue and inner thoughts of Jenny which made me love that character so much, and which made the scary scenes terrifying as the tone switched up. (I also LOVE Jenny’s taste in music! Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco? Yes!).
Luc is a brilliant character with a fascinating backstory that intertwines with Jenny’s. They work so well together.
Phenomenally written, action, romance, humour, twists and turns! People say “I couldn’t put it down!” So often that it’s become a cliché, but I really couldn’t put it down. The Dark Within Us deserves to be massive.
August 1, 2024
I have been on this writing journey with Jess for a number of years and finally read the finished product. Wow, I am more than a little impressed with the style, quality and polish of the writing. As a YA novel it utilises current, on-trend issues and observations that will be relatable to so many teenagers and young adults today. As a mature lady in my sixties, I was equally captivated by the plot lines as the writing is superb and the various strands to the story help to maintain interest and a desire to know what happens next. There is just enough romance, comedy, characterisation and ‘visions of Hell’ to move the story along at the right pace and to impel you to keep turning the pages to find out more. I am very much looking forward to discovering what Jess Popplewell turns her hand to next.
August 9, 2024
Such a well written, witty, funny and absorbing book!
I enjoyed every minute of reading this book - it gripped me from the very beginning - and I loved spotting the literary and folklore "Easter Eggs" dotted throughout the narrative.
Well done Jess - its fabulous!
I enjoyed every minute of reading this book - it gripped me from the very beginning - and I loved spotting the literary and folklore "Easter Eggs" dotted throughout the narrative.
Well done Jess - its fabulous!
August 3, 2024
Wow what a great read and it really sucks you into the world of Jenny from the get go.
This hit some nostalgia trigger points for me especially with the bands mentioned at the start of the book. There's been a lot of Panic! At the disco and Fallout boy playing over the last few days that's for sure.
The book reminded of myself as a teen attending ramshackle house parties, stuck in the monotony of school and although I've never personally visited (that I can remember), I can see myself wandering the levels of All Hell due to Jess's amazing world building.
Also a part of the nostalgia trip is the language and Yorkshire slang used throughout. I'm right back there loitering with my pals in parks/fields/museum gardens feeling like the world is against me whilst also assuming I'm the best thing since sliced bread.
All in all a fantastic read, great language and a cracking set of characters that I can envision clearly in my mind.
10/10 Jess I can't wait to read whatever you have for me next.
This hit some nostalgia trigger points for me especially with the bands mentioned at the start of the book. There's been a lot of Panic! At the disco and Fallout boy playing over the last few days that's for sure.
The book reminded of myself as a teen attending ramshackle house parties, stuck in the monotony of school and although I've never personally visited (that I can remember), I can see myself wandering the levels of All Hell due to Jess's amazing world building.
Also a part of the nostalgia trip is the language and Yorkshire slang used throughout. I'm right back there loitering with my pals in parks/fields/museum gardens feeling like the world is against me whilst also assuming I'm the best thing since sliced bread.
All in all a fantastic read, great language and a cracking set of characters that I can envision clearly in my mind.
10/10 Jess I can't wait to read whatever you have for me next.
August 12, 2024
The book includes a content warning for mentioning suicide, I will say, its just that - its not depictions of, and I think it was really tactfully discussed without judgement.
Without further ado: I gave this 5 stars because I couldn't think of anything I didn't like.
Despite that half the book is set on a different astral plane to earth it was very realistic, the dialogue, Jenny's tribulations, the world building - all so spot on. There are sneaky (maybe not so sneaky?) messages / lessons for those who've ever suffered from bullying or feeling alone/excluded. The ending is super satisfying. The depictions of Hell were delightful and imaginative. I hope I never have to go there based on these descriptions! The dark humour was also well played. As a 40 something year old I loved this, I think teenage me would've loved it too.
Without further ado: I gave this 5 stars because I couldn't think of anything I didn't like.
Despite that half the book is set on a different astral plane to earth it was very realistic, the dialogue, Jenny's tribulations, the world building - all so spot on. There are sneaky (maybe not so sneaky?) messages / lessons for those who've ever suffered from bullying or feeling alone/excluded. The ending is super satisfying. The depictions of Hell were delightful and imaginative. I hope I never have to go there based on these descriptions! The dark humour was also well played. As a 40 something year old I loved this, I think teenage me would've loved it too.
August 7, 2024
I always think the sign of a good book is how it makes you feel
At times in the book I felt like I was having a fever dream!
During other points in the book I felt like I was on a journey of growth with Jenny.
I highlighted lots of parts but really loved this quote as a reminder about life and being human "you are strong and adaptable and growing. All the time, growing, and that's all you need to do right now. Be yourself and let yourself grow"
I also FEEL this would make a great netflix series. It gave me Wednesday vibes.
I feel like want to read it again in the winter with a candle burning, a blanket and copious amounts of tea
Happy writing Jess, patiently waiting for more
At times in the book I felt like I was having a fever dream!
During other points in the book I felt like I was on a journey of growth with Jenny.
I highlighted lots of parts but really loved this quote as a reminder about life and being human "you are strong and adaptable and growing. All the time, growing, and that's all you need to do right now. Be yourself and let yourself grow"
I also FEEL this would make a great netflix series. It gave me Wednesday vibes.
I feel like want to read it again in the winter with a candle burning, a blanket and copious amounts of tea
Happy writing Jess, patiently waiting for more
August 4, 2024
My most anticipated read of 2024 and it didn't dissapoint at all! I adored this book, it's absolutely brilliant. Deal with the devil, YA Romantasy set in the North West, just perfect.
Jess Popplewells debut is wholly original without ever trying too hard to reinvent the wheel. I already can't wait to see more from this author.
Also it was so nice to read something set in the North-West that didn't sound like bad Hollyoaks dialogue. Every accurate Scousism made my heart sing.
Jess Popplewells debut is wholly original without ever trying too hard to reinvent the wheel. I already can't wait to see more from this author.
Also it was so nice to read something set in the North-West that didn't sound like bad Hollyoaks dialogue. Every accurate Scousism made my heart sing.
August 18, 2024
I really wanted to LOVE this book because the cover is GORGEOUS and the premise really good!
Now it wasn’t bad by any means but just not mind blowing to me. I felt like the vibe of the cover was very different from the vibe in the book. I felt the cover gave me spooky, eerie and dark vibes. And while the book was very dark a lot of the time, it was kinda ruined by the unserious-ness throughout the book. The comedy felt very out of place for me.
I didn’t particularly feel for any of the characters either. How Jenny and Luc spent time at the fair as complete strangers mind you, was just very odd considering she didn’t really trust him or believe him being a demon. Their relationship felt very rushed and they hardly spent time together throughout the story to validate a proper romance developing. They still hardly know each other at the end even if they kissed and acknowledged their feelings.
I enjoyed the fact that bullying, the sense of loss and not belonging anywhere was portrayed well in the story.
But again it felt very un-serious and lot of the time and I guess I was just put off by it because of the stark difference from the cover to the story itself. I wasn’t expecting a modern world purely by the cover itself.
The story was very entertaining and I finished it within 24 hours. And I loved how absolutely BRITISH it is. Having lived there myself I throughly enjoyed all the references to normal British life. The ending felt a little rushed as well to be honest. I would rather the book had been longer so we got more context and more relevant relationship development through the story.
Now it wasn’t bad by any means but just not mind blowing to me. I felt like the vibe of the cover was very different from the vibe in the book. I felt the cover gave me spooky, eerie and dark vibes. And while the book was very dark a lot of the time, it was kinda ruined by the unserious-ness throughout the book. The comedy felt very out of place for me.
I didn’t particularly feel for any of the characters either. How Jenny and Luc spent time at the fair as complete strangers mind you, was just very odd considering she didn’t really trust him or believe him being a demon. Their relationship felt very rushed and they hardly spent time together throughout the story to validate a proper romance developing. They still hardly know each other at the end even if they kissed and acknowledged their feelings.
I enjoyed the fact that bullying, the sense of loss and not belonging anywhere was portrayed well in the story.
But again it felt very un-serious and lot of the time and I guess I was just put off by it because of the stark difference from the cover to the story itself. I wasn’t expecting a modern world purely by the cover itself.
The story was very entertaining and I finished it within 24 hours. And I loved how absolutely BRITISH it is. Having lived there myself I throughly enjoyed all the references to normal British life. The ending felt a little rushed as well to be honest. I would rather the book had been longer so we got more context and more relevant relationship development through the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
Disappointed but not surprised.
I don't usually read romantasy but the concept seemed really interesting I made an exception.
I read this for the cool premise:
Hell as a corporate company and the forbidden stealing of souls
....but barely made it to the end.
I slapped this book against my forehead out of frustration too many times to count.
The characters are shallow and under-baked from the same dough used by most other YA authors: 2 parts horny, 2 parts "misunderstood", 1 part reckless. But devoid of filling, the inner goals, wants flaws and ambitions that makes a person real.
I PRAY for the day "mysterious" hot and cold, predatory interactions are no longer heralded as the quintessential love story.🙄
the plot:
An angsty and fiery girl (Jenny) makes endless stupid and unsafe decisions to follow a confident "handsome" guy (sound familiar?) claiming to be a demon (Luc) into hell to reclaim her soul that was stolen from her.
> The imagery is cool but the writing is underdeveloped at times. Told from 3rd person POV but worded strangely (including clunky teenage lingo) like it was written by the 16 year old FMC herself - numerous examples below this review
> This is the authors first published novel so she has time to grow and improve and I did LOVE the ideas of the dark world of All Hell that she tried to create.
>I felt her world building was solid and original but the characters were stereotypical and one dimensional. It would have been better to focus on realistic revealing dialogue and conceptualised characters with real goals/direction instead of:
A forced, angsty teen love story between two trope-ridden strangers to conform to the wattpad-esque, problematic romance prevalent in most fantasy fiction published nowadays.
* also I would like to give credit to the brief mentions of 2 gay couples (side characters) in the book and non-binary Ferry creature. It would have been nice to see some more diversity within the main characters though.
EXAMPLES FROM THE BOOK
WRITING THAT FELT WEIRD TO ME:
" she marched smack-bang, nose-first, glasses-ouch into the sternum of a demon."
"this wasn't a LARPing kind of party."
"She was leaving. Not running away, exactly, because where would she be running from, but she was leaving this city"
~okay? We get it, she's leaving.
" stop calling me that or I will gut you, you phallic object"
~ Who says that?
" She held her hand out for Lucs credit card, which was black, obviously."
~ Why is this obvious? Jenny does realize credit cards come in black for normal people too right?
"Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and stared in surprise. Vee. Well, duh."
~ I guess the author did well to really voice the "teenager attitude" of her FMC but I rolled my eyes every time, the snarkiness made me want to just skip to other chapters with different character POVs.
"The ferrier stood at the back of the boat, overlooking the salmagundi of humanity seated on the wooden benches."
~Human salad. That's what this description evoked: A caesar of lettuce people.
THE CHARACTERS:
👉LUC: A.k.a Lucifer, the "bad boy", cocky, troubled, sulky/broody, bad tempered (nasty to knight in shining armour in a blink of an eye), DADDY ISSUES
"He switched the full beam of his pleasure on her and next time he spoke his voice dropped lower, intimate"
~NOT 'sparks fly' material given just before this he had grabbed Jenny by the wrist to restrain her and she hit him on the side of the head trying to get away.
"You've got meat in your teeth' Luc told the attendant calmly, masking the smile that wanted to emerge as she frantically tried to pick it out with one pointed foreclaw. Luc allowed himself that victory"
~Victory?
Seriously how old is he?
Luc's actions are reminiscent of a pubescent boy in class "accidentally" dropping pens and asking for girls to pick them up to get a sense of power or scrap of attention.
" Jenny couldnt help shooting a grin at him then, and he returned it, kicking her gently under the table until she giggled."
~ My case in point.🤮
And readers are supposed to feel bad for him because of his father's disappointment in him which he unrealisticly and weirdly states out loud at one point to his face,
" you know I've always considered you a disappointment, don't you?"
👉JENNY: The FMC, angsty, impulsive, judgemental, terrible taste in friends, trustworthy bordering on naive, MOMMY ISSUES
" Apparently all it does (not having a soul) is make one tenacious....and annoying"
~ The author knowing Jenny is an annoying MC but making her not having a soul as the reason feels like lazy writing.
" Directionless and angst ridden with a chip the size of black burn on her shoulder"
~Yep. the author seems to enjoy making a point of knowing how angsty, aimless and stereotypically teenager she is for the readers.
"She thinks she's unlovable"
~Classic. The only kind of inner turmoil or fear a young white woman can have.
"Maybe she'd have had more friends, invitations to sleepovers and shopping trips, instead of spending so long in her room reading Choose Your Own Adventure books"
~In case you haven't noticed, she's weird. She's a weirdo. She doesn't fit in. (sigh)
"if he was offering her drugs she might even apologize for hitting him"
~?????
Girly has 0 survival instincts.
"he wore a suit that reminded Jenny of guns and armoured vehicles."
~Huh? what? is it made of kevlar??
" None of the demons moved or spoke; they just stood there, an endless sea of horror.
An army, her brain unhelpfully offered up."
~Is the author intentionally writing Jenny to sound not smart?
"I (Jenny) sleep on your sofa and everything I own fits in a bin bag at one end of it.
Forgive me if that doesn't feel like a stable home environment."
"Auntie vee was letting Jenny stay at her house for free. It shouldn't be a surprise that she was curious about The Fight".
~Vee is letting her niece (Jenny) crash on the only place she has to offer (the couch) in an already packed house with 3 younger kids and a new partner because Jenny had a "The Fight" with her mum and fled from home. Auntie vee was villanised for questioning her dangerously stupid behavior and simply wanting to know what happened in the dramatically named"The Fight".
~ Jenny is dripping with the "I'm so misunderstood and I hate my family" trope seriously? No nuance whatsoever?
I don't usually read romantasy but the concept seemed really interesting I made an exception.
I read this for the cool premise:
Hell as a corporate company and the forbidden stealing of souls
....but barely made it to the end.
I slapped this book against my forehead out of frustration too many times to count.
The characters are shallow and under-baked from the same dough used by most other YA authors: 2 parts horny, 2 parts "misunderstood", 1 part reckless. But devoid of filling, the inner goals, wants flaws and ambitions that makes a person real.
I PRAY for the day "mysterious" hot and cold, predatory interactions are no longer heralded as the quintessential love story.🙄
the plot:
An angsty and fiery girl (Jenny) makes endless stupid and unsafe decisions to follow a confident "handsome" guy (sound familiar?) claiming to be a demon (Luc) into hell to reclaim her soul that was stolen from her.
> The imagery is cool but the writing is underdeveloped at times. Told from 3rd person POV but worded strangely (including clunky teenage lingo) like it was written by the 16 year old FMC herself - numerous examples below this review
> This is the authors first published novel so she has time to grow and improve and I did LOVE the ideas of the dark world of All Hell that she tried to create.
>I felt her world building was solid and original but the characters were stereotypical and one dimensional. It would have been better to focus on realistic revealing dialogue and conceptualised characters with real goals/direction instead of:
A forced, angsty teen love story between two trope-ridden strangers to conform to the wattpad-esque, problematic romance prevalent in most fantasy fiction published nowadays.
* also I would like to give credit to the brief mentions of 2 gay couples (side characters) in the book and non-binary Ferry creature. It would have been nice to see some more diversity within the main characters though.
EXAMPLES FROM THE BOOK
WRITING THAT FELT WEIRD TO ME:
" she marched smack-bang, nose-first, glasses-ouch into the sternum of a demon."
"this wasn't a LARPing kind of party."
"She was leaving. Not running away, exactly, because where would she be running from, but she was leaving this city"
~okay? We get it, she's leaving.
" stop calling me that or I will gut you, you phallic object"
~ Who says that?
" She held her hand out for Lucs credit card, which was black, obviously."
~ Why is this obvious? Jenny does realize credit cards come in black for normal people too right?
"Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and stared in surprise. Vee. Well, duh."
~ I guess the author did well to really voice the "teenager attitude" of her FMC but I rolled my eyes every time, the snarkiness made me want to just skip to other chapters with different character POVs.
"The ferrier stood at the back of the boat, overlooking the salmagundi of humanity seated on the wooden benches."
~Human salad. That's what this description evoked: A caesar of lettuce people.
THE CHARACTERS:
👉LUC: A.k.a Lucifer, the "bad boy", cocky, troubled, sulky/broody, bad tempered (nasty to knight in shining armour in a blink of an eye), DADDY ISSUES
"He switched the full beam of his pleasure on her and next time he spoke his voice dropped lower, intimate"
~NOT 'sparks fly' material given just before this he had grabbed Jenny by the wrist to restrain her and she hit him on the side of the head trying to get away.
"You've got meat in your teeth' Luc told the attendant calmly, masking the smile that wanted to emerge as she frantically tried to pick it out with one pointed foreclaw. Luc allowed himself that victory"
~Victory?
Seriously how old is he?
Luc's actions are reminiscent of a pubescent boy in class "accidentally" dropping pens and asking for girls to pick them up to get a sense of power or scrap of attention.
" Jenny couldnt help shooting a grin at him then, and he returned it, kicking her gently under the table until she giggled."
~ My case in point.🤮
And readers are supposed to feel bad for him because of his father's disappointment in him which he unrealisticly and weirdly states out loud at one point to his face,
" you know I've always considered you a disappointment, don't you?"
👉JENNY: The FMC, angsty, impulsive, judgemental, terrible taste in friends, trustworthy bordering on naive, MOMMY ISSUES
" Apparently all it does (not having a soul) is make one tenacious....and annoying"
~ The author knowing Jenny is an annoying MC but making her not having a soul as the reason feels like lazy writing.
" Directionless and angst ridden with a chip the size of black burn on her shoulder"
~Yep. the author seems to enjoy making a point of knowing how angsty, aimless and stereotypically teenager she is for the readers.
"She thinks she's unlovable"
~Classic. The only kind of inner turmoil or fear a young white woman can have.
"Maybe she'd have had more friends, invitations to sleepovers and shopping trips, instead of spending so long in her room reading Choose Your Own Adventure books"
~In case you haven't noticed, she's weird. She's a weirdo. She doesn't fit in. (sigh)
"if he was offering her drugs she might even apologize for hitting him"
~?????
Girly has 0 survival instincts.
"he wore a suit that reminded Jenny of guns and armoured vehicles."
~Huh? what? is it made of kevlar??
" None of the demons moved or spoke; they just stood there, an endless sea of horror.
An army, her brain unhelpfully offered up."
~Is the author intentionally writing Jenny to sound not smart?
"I (Jenny) sleep on your sofa and everything I own fits in a bin bag at one end of it.
Forgive me if that doesn't feel like a stable home environment."
"Auntie vee was letting Jenny stay at her house for free. It shouldn't be a surprise that she was curious about The Fight".
~Vee is letting her niece (Jenny) crash on the only place she has to offer (the couch) in an already packed house with 3 younger kids and a new partner because Jenny had a "The Fight" with her mum and fled from home. Auntie vee was villanised for questioning her dangerously stupid behavior and simply wanting to know what happened in the dramatically named"The Fight".
~ Jenny is dripping with the "I'm so misunderstood and I hate my family" trope seriously? No nuance whatsoever?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2024
4'5✨
Bof me ha puesto super blandita, he pedido conectar mucho con los dos protas y con cómo se sentían, y las vibras del infierno y todas las descripciones son increíbles.
• Infierno y demonios
• Ghotic Romance (sub plot)
• Multi pov
• Soledad y problemas intrapersonales e interpersonales
• Ambientación oscura
Al principio me ha recordado un poco a Hush Hush, en el sentido de las vibes y la ambientación que daba el libro al leerlo.
Siento que si la autora de repente decidiera hacer una serie de este mundo y personajes, le daría para mucho, con libros autoconclusivos pero teniendo los personajes evolución personal y entre ellos. Sería una serie increíble. Siento que tiene las mismas vibes y oportunidades que Rick Riordan con Percy Jackson, el inferno que sale en este libro y todos los problemas que tiene la protagonista darían para mucha trama a lo largo de una serie completa.
Me he gustado también que en este tomo, a pesar de ser autoconclusivo y cerrar muy bien todos los puntos que toca, no se soluciona todo ni acaba todo con arcoiris y flores.
La autora ha usado muy bien el multi POV para darle más profundidad al libro y todo el world building y el rango de personajes que se pueden encontrar en el contexto de este universo.
Ambos protas se nota que son muy complejos, a pesar de tocar lo justo y necesario durante la novela, podrían ambos dar para muchísimo, me encantaría leer a ambos crecer en sus personajes a la vez que descubrir, en cada posible libro de un serie, diferentes partes del infierno.
—
How were teachers going to help her, when clearly they didn’t even understand her? See, she wasn’t a good girl. Not really. Not when her only emotions were anger and sadness
—
She’d been pretending to be good for as long as she could remember, but right now she wasn’t sure why she bothered.
—
Mysteries were just life’s little way of adding spice to things – it wouldn’t do to solve all of them, would it?
—
‘She thinks she’s unlovable,’ the Succubus drawled lazily. ‘Inherently damaged in a way that everyone else can sense.’
—
‘Maybe it’s because you’re a demon,’ she wondered out loud.
‘What is?’
‘That you like me,’ she said.
‘Or maybe there’s just nothing wrong with you.’
—
You can grieve for the life you could have had, but what’s the point? It’s done. You said those things. You made your choices. And in the end, this is where they bring you.
—
‘I thought I was broken,’ she whispered.
‘Never,’ Joey said. ‘You are strong, and adaptable, and growing. All the time, growing. And that’s all you need to do right now. Be yourself, and let yourself grow.’
Bof me ha puesto super blandita, he pedido conectar mucho con los dos protas y con cómo se sentían, y las vibras del infierno y todas las descripciones son increíbles.
• Infierno y demonios
• Ghotic Romance (sub plot)
• Multi pov
• Soledad y problemas intrapersonales e interpersonales
• Ambientación oscura
Al principio me ha recordado un poco a Hush Hush, en el sentido de las vibes y la ambientación que daba el libro al leerlo.
Siento que si la autora de repente decidiera hacer una serie de este mundo y personajes, le daría para mucho, con libros autoconclusivos pero teniendo los personajes evolución personal y entre ellos. Sería una serie increíble. Siento que tiene las mismas vibes y oportunidades que Rick Riordan con Percy Jackson, el inferno que sale en este libro y todos los problemas que tiene la protagonista darían para mucha trama a lo largo de una serie completa.
Me he gustado también que en este tomo, a pesar de ser autoconclusivo y cerrar muy bien todos los puntos que toca, no se soluciona todo ni acaba todo con arcoiris y flores.
La autora ha usado muy bien el multi POV para darle más profundidad al libro y todo el world building y el rango de personajes que se pueden encontrar en el contexto de este universo.
Ambos protas se nota que son muy complejos, a pesar de tocar lo justo y necesario durante la novela, podrían ambos dar para muchísimo, me encantaría leer a ambos crecer en sus personajes a la vez que descubrir, en cada posible libro de un serie, diferentes partes del infierno.
—
How were teachers going to help her, when clearly they didn’t even understand her? See, she wasn’t a good girl. Not really. Not when her only emotions were anger and sadness
—
She’d been pretending to be good for as long as she could remember, but right now she wasn’t sure why she bothered.
—
Mysteries were just life’s little way of adding spice to things – it wouldn’t do to solve all of them, would it?
—
‘She thinks she’s unlovable,’ the Succubus drawled lazily. ‘Inherently damaged in a way that everyone else can sense.’
—
‘Maybe it’s because you’re a demon,’ she wondered out loud.
‘What is?’
‘That you like me,’ she said.
‘Or maybe there’s just nothing wrong with you.’
—
You can grieve for the life you could have had, but what’s the point? It’s done. You said those things. You made your choices. And in the end, this is where they bring you.
—
‘I thought I was broken,’ she whispered.
‘Never,’ Joey said. ‘You are strong, and adaptable, and growing. All the time, growing. And that’s all you need to do right now. Be yourself, and let yourself grow.’
November 6, 2024
THE DARK WITHIN US is a darkly comic romantasy about a demon and a soulless girl.
I really liked the world in this book. The best way I can describe it is "what if PERCY JACKSON was older?" All Hell is a mash up of underworlds from different mythologies (I recognised the Greek parts and the Medieval Christianity parts but I am sure there are more) but with that quirky modern reimagining from the PERCY JACKSON books. For example, there's a corporation running All Hell that has a load of subsidiaries that handle things like the bus network.
It was very funny and clever, with a slightly dark edge (I mean, we are dealing with hell here.) I enjoyed seeing Jess Popplewell bring this world of myths to life that felt like a reflection of reality that was a bit more on the nose about the evils of capitalism and the like.
Under all this, it's a story about home and brokenness, of learning to live and trust again. Luc is shifty and Jenny is drawn to him for all the many reasons she shouldn't (starting with: he's a demon.) Her relationship with him, learning to trust herself and her judgement, links in to her experience of homelessness and lacking roots after disagreements with her family. It's far more touching than I expected for a somewhat black comedy.
I really liked the world in this book. The best way I can describe it is "what if PERCY JACKSON was older?" All Hell is a mash up of underworlds from different mythologies (I recognised the Greek parts and the Medieval Christianity parts but I am sure there are more) but with that quirky modern reimagining from the PERCY JACKSON books. For example, there's a corporation running All Hell that has a load of subsidiaries that handle things like the bus network.
It was very funny and clever, with a slightly dark edge (I mean, we are dealing with hell here.) I enjoyed seeing Jess Popplewell bring this world of myths to life that felt like a reflection of reality that was a bit more on the nose about the evils of capitalism and the like.
Under all this, it's a story about home and brokenness, of learning to live and trust again. Luc is shifty and Jenny is drawn to him for all the many reasons she shouldn't (starting with: he's a demon.) Her relationship with him, learning to trust herself and her judgement, links in to her experience of homelessness and lacking roots after disagreements with her family. It's far more touching than I expected for a somewhat black comedy.
February 18, 2025
I enjoyed the wild ride that was The Dark Within Us, every twist and turn, every dark and hopeless moment and every promising one that followed.
This story had multiple points of view, but it’s mainly from the point of view of Jenny, a young woman who has always had a tough time maintaining relationships and feels like she doesn’t fit in and isn’t wanted anywhere with anyone. Finding out she doesn’t have her soul, this convinces her the only way to be herself and be loved is to get it back!
I feel like I got to experience Jenny finding her place, realising that she’s actually not half as bad as she thinks everyone thinks she is either. I found her very easy to relate to and soul or no soul, I loved her.
The connections made were really special and despite the ups and downs, I loved the direction these characters took, together and alone. I had my eyes wide for some of the blood curdling moments, especially with the twins and especially in Eldrick Park and the Forest that shall remain nameless (if you know you know) and loved the lore used throughout this book too.
To me, this was an almost-apocalyptic, fantasy and a nice amount of romantic tension with some funny bits in between. Also the cover is gorgeous!
This story had multiple points of view, but it’s mainly from the point of view of Jenny, a young woman who has always had a tough time maintaining relationships and feels like she doesn’t fit in and isn’t wanted anywhere with anyone. Finding out she doesn’t have her soul, this convinces her the only way to be herself and be loved is to get it back!
I feel like I got to experience Jenny finding her place, realising that she’s actually not half as bad as she thinks everyone thinks she is either. I found her very easy to relate to and soul or no soul, I loved her.
The connections made were really special and despite the ups and downs, I loved the direction these characters took, together and alone. I had my eyes wide for some of the blood curdling moments, especially with the twins and especially in Eldrick Park and the Forest that shall remain nameless (if you know you know) and loved the lore used throughout this book too.
To me, this was an almost-apocalyptic, fantasy and a nice amount of romantic tension with some funny bits in between. Also the cover is gorgeous!
September 8, 2024
What a truly fantastic read! I gobbled this up today and I really hope to see more Jess Popplewell books on the shelves soon. Beautifully written, creepy, and darkly comforting, 10/10 would read again
September 8, 2024
Love love love this book. I picked it up randomly at the book store without knowing anything about the author or that it was newly published and I enjoyed every page. Not too short, not too long, great pacing, amazing protagonist.
Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo.
Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo.
April 4, 2026
Jenny Hall is a sarky heroine who has lost her soul and her way. Luc is a handsome guy who promises to reunite her with the vital missing piece of herself, stolen a decade ago, when she was only six years old. The catch? A journey together through the nine circles of hell to retrieve Jenny's soul. Oh, and Luc is short for Lucifer (it's a family name) and he's a demon with an ulterior motive . . . .
Author Jess Popplewell has a wonderful unique voice, tells a story seamlessly and delivers a cracking tale. Luc rightly identifies Jenny as 'semi-homeless, directionless and angst-ridden with a chip the size of Blackburn on her shoulder' but she's also feisty and takes no prisoners, hiding the darkness within her, that sense of herself as unlikeable, unlovable, and useless.
Luc has his issues too and I loved the vulnerable moments between them:
The world of All Hell is a Good Omens-eque place peopled with wonderful characters from the Ferrier on the River Acheron, to the heart-of-gold waitresses Fran and Cleo who are eternally damned to serve tables at the Hopeless Heart diner, to the Seer Tristan of the Narrows, who's very good at shuffling a pack of tarot cards even though his head's on backwards.
I haven't read Dante's Inferno but I got a claustrophobic sense that Jess was giving the nine circles her own twist with hellish landscapes and sad, trapped beings.
Does that all sound unrelentingly dark? Maybe! But this story is very human and humorous, and exactly how you would imagine a 16-year-old Northern lass would tackle the underworld when she has nothing left to lose. And tackle it, she does, even though she's terrified, and confused by Luc's mixed signals.
Belonging, being enough, trusting yourself, growing. It's all here, and it's hellishly wonderful.
Author Jess Popplewell has a wonderful unique voice, tells a story seamlessly and delivers a cracking tale. Luc rightly identifies Jenny as 'semi-homeless, directionless and angst-ridden with a chip the size of Blackburn on her shoulder' but she's also feisty and takes no prisoners, hiding the darkness within her, that sense of herself as unlikeable, unlovable, and useless.
Luc has his issues too and I loved the vulnerable moments between them:
'It was like some defensive spiky part of her had reached out and found the defensive, spiky part of Luc. He'd seen something in her, recognized it . . . .'
'Tears sprang to her eyes, and she turned into him, pressing her face against his chest. Demons have heartbeats then, she thought, distantly. She felt him hesitate and then his arms closed around her.'
The world of All Hell is a Good Omens-eque place peopled with wonderful characters from the Ferrier on the River Acheron, to the heart-of-gold waitresses Fran and Cleo who are eternally damned to serve tables at the Hopeless Heart diner, to the Seer Tristan of the Narrows, who's very good at shuffling a pack of tarot cards even though his head's on backwards.
I haven't read Dante's Inferno but I got a claustrophobic sense that Jess was giving the nine circles her own twist with hellish landscapes and sad, trapped beings.
Does that all sound unrelentingly dark? Maybe! But this story is very human and humorous, and exactly how you would imagine a 16-year-old Northern lass would tackle the underworld when she has nothing left to lose. And tackle it, she does, even though she's terrified, and confused by Luc's mixed signals.
Belonging, being enough, trusting yourself, growing. It's all here, and it's hellishly wonderful.
October 6, 2024
This felt like I was dropped into a modern-day Hell, with a dash of humour, some seriously quirky vibes, and a devilishly handsome demon who’s, well, going through it.
Jenny? She’s broken, lost, and just trying to survive this thing called life. Luc? He’s got family drama that’s quite literally hellish (when your dad rules the underworld, therapy is NOT an option).
Their paths cross at a party, and let’s just say the sparks fly, except these sparks might set the whole world on fire. Jenny sees a smoking hot guy with a mysterious edge; Luc sees a girl who might be just as damaged as he is. What could go wrong? Oh, just everything!
But the real fun begins when they’re sucked into a journey through the depths of Hell itself.
Popplewell took me on a hilarious, heartbreaking, and surprisingly relatable trip into the underworld. It's Dante's Inferno with a Gen Z twist, dark, edgy, but never losing that sharp, witty banter.
Luc might be a literal demon, but he's got all the emotional baggage of a rom com hero, and Jenny? She’s trying to figure out if she can save herself before the darkness swallows her whole.
Their relationship is full of tension, snarky humour, and just the right amount of swoon.
Popplewell’s debut isn’t just another tale of star crossed lovers, it's a smart, authentic story that draws from her own experiences, making it both emotionally raw and relatable. Whether you’re into demons, damaged souls, or just a really clever take on what Hell might look like if it had Wi-Fi and sarcastic demons, The Dark Within Us will have you laughing, crying, and maybe questioning your own inner demons.
Prepare to be charmed by this unique, fiery debut—The Dark Within Us is a Hell of a good time!
A huge Thank you to Chicken House for providing me with a copy of this great title in exchange for an honest review.
Jenny? She’s broken, lost, and just trying to survive this thing called life. Luc? He’s got family drama that’s quite literally hellish (when your dad rules the underworld, therapy is NOT an option).
Their paths cross at a party, and let’s just say the sparks fly, except these sparks might set the whole world on fire. Jenny sees a smoking hot guy with a mysterious edge; Luc sees a girl who might be just as damaged as he is. What could go wrong? Oh, just everything!
But the real fun begins when they’re sucked into a journey through the depths of Hell itself.
Popplewell took me on a hilarious, heartbreaking, and surprisingly relatable trip into the underworld. It's Dante's Inferno with a Gen Z twist, dark, edgy, but never losing that sharp, witty banter.
Luc might be a literal demon, but he's got all the emotional baggage of a rom com hero, and Jenny? She’s trying to figure out if she can save herself before the darkness swallows her whole.
Their relationship is full of tension, snarky humour, and just the right amount of swoon.
Popplewell’s debut isn’t just another tale of star crossed lovers, it's a smart, authentic story that draws from her own experiences, making it both emotionally raw and relatable. Whether you’re into demons, damaged souls, or just a really clever take on what Hell might look like if it had Wi-Fi and sarcastic demons, The Dark Within Us will have you laughing, crying, and maybe questioning your own inner demons.
Prepare to be charmed by this unique, fiery debut—The Dark Within Us is a Hell of a good time!
A huge Thank you to Chicken House for providing me with a copy of this great title in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2024
The Dark Within Us had me in the first few pages, and then I hardly put it down until I was done.
Jenny has been to hell and back – quite literally. Both physically and emotionally, and teenage me felt every single emotion along with her. It’s rare to find a teenager so accurately written by an adult, but I got Jenny completely as soon as I opened the pages. Sure, some of her decisions are… questionable. Her thought processes are… a little off sometimes. Her spur of the moment throwing-herself-into-dangerous-situations is… stressful. But that’s exactly how teenagers are, and I found her and her flaws so refreshing and relatable, rather than a main character that excels at making complicated adult decisions all the time. I think teenagers will love her.
TDWU is creative and witty, and multiple times I laughed out loud at how Jess has managed to interpret the traditional elements of the classic circles of hell, and translate that into modern and relatable settings. There are details that I won’t spoil but I was incredibly touched by the thoughtfulness of their inclusion. As a Christian (of the rebellious nature) I found this book to be my perfect mix of accurate theology whilst also having great fun with it.
There is, of course, the budding romance with the cute demon and I also totally wish I had tiny horns poking out of my hair, and the outcome for the pair is both the perfect ending, whilst wishing you could know *just a little bit more*.
This is a story of danger, desperation, adventure, heartbreak and remake, and I was thrilled to be able to read it. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to reaf it, and to see what Jess does next.
Jenny has been to hell and back – quite literally. Both physically and emotionally, and teenage me felt every single emotion along with her. It’s rare to find a teenager so accurately written by an adult, but I got Jenny completely as soon as I opened the pages. Sure, some of her decisions are… questionable. Her thought processes are… a little off sometimes. Her spur of the moment throwing-herself-into-dangerous-situations is… stressful. But that’s exactly how teenagers are, and I found her and her flaws so refreshing and relatable, rather than a main character that excels at making complicated adult decisions all the time. I think teenagers will love her.
TDWU is creative and witty, and multiple times I laughed out loud at how Jess has managed to interpret the traditional elements of the classic circles of hell, and translate that into modern and relatable settings. There are details that I won’t spoil but I was incredibly touched by the thoughtfulness of their inclusion. As a Christian (of the rebellious nature) I found this book to be my perfect mix of accurate theology whilst also having great fun with it.
There is, of course, the budding romance with the cute demon and I also totally wish I had tiny horns poking out of my hair, and the outcome for the pair is both the perfect ending, whilst wishing you could know *just a little bit more*.
This is a story of danger, desperation, adventure, heartbreak and remake, and I was thrilled to be able to read it. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to reaf it, and to see what Jess does next.
December 29, 2024
4.75 ⭐
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Couldn’t put it down. I felt that I personally could relate to the MFC. Luc the MMC struggled to remember his hair is golden and not black haha.
The story it self was evenly paced which for me is nice and the building of the world was very descriptive.
Minor characters stood out - Zillah reminded me of Mazakeen in the Lucifer Netflix show. Did get mad regarding Zilliah as thought she died - was ready to throw fists! HOWEVER Jess made up for it at the end! The Ferrier , Cleo and Fran all stood out too!
I LOVED the multiple POVS! Felt it brought the world to life and all were relevant to the next part of the story! Would have loved a Zilliah POV!
However for me I would have loved a different ending, where she stays in hell. However that’s just me and in no way a reflection of the author!
For Jess’ 1st book it was really good!! I also feel the book doesn’t need a sequel, I’m happy where the characters stories have ended - though I hope Cleo and Fran got their redemption!
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Couldn’t put it down. I felt that I personally could relate to the MFC. Luc the MMC struggled to remember his hair is golden and not black haha.
The story it self was evenly paced which for me is nice and the building of the world was very descriptive.
Minor characters stood out - Zillah reminded me of Mazakeen in the Lucifer Netflix show. Did get mad regarding Zilliah as thought she died - was ready to throw fists! HOWEVER Jess made up for it at the end! The Ferrier , Cleo and Fran all stood out too!
I LOVED the multiple POVS! Felt it brought the world to life and all were relevant to the next part of the story! Would have loved a Zilliah POV!
However for me I would have loved a different ending, where she stays in hell. However that’s just me and in no way a reflection of the author!
For Jess’ 1st book it was really good!! I also feel the book doesn’t need a sequel, I’m happy where the characters stories have ended - though I hope Cleo and Fran got their redemption!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
The Dark Within us sets out to deliver a dark, supernatural journey through the underworld, infused with YA rebellion and romance.
The world-building shows flashes of brilliance, painting an eerie, Dante-inspired setting—but I personally found that the story jumped between ambitious lore and character-driven drama without fully committing to either.
The protagonist, Jenny, is reckless and relatable and Luc (the demon with a brooding edge) teeters between compelling and frustrating.
The book offers sharp dialogue and atmospheric tension. The emotional weight of Jenny and Luc’s dynamic could have hit harder, but inconsistencies in character development soften its impact.
The Dark Within Us isn’t without its merits—fresh ideas, intriguing mythology, and flashes of lyrical writing. Fans of YA dark fantasy will enjoy its concepts, but those craving a fully immersive experience may find themselves wanting more.
The world-building shows flashes of brilliance, painting an eerie, Dante-inspired setting—but I personally found that the story jumped between ambitious lore and character-driven drama without fully committing to either.
The protagonist, Jenny, is reckless and relatable and Luc (the demon with a brooding edge) teeters between compelling and frustrating.
The book offers sharp dialogue and atmospheric tension. The emotional weight of Jenny and Luc’s dynamic could have hit harder, but inconsistencies in character development soften its impact.
The Dark Within Us isn’t without its merits—fresh ideas, intriguing mythology, and flashes of lyrical writing. Fans of YA dark fantasy will enjoy its concepts, but those craving a fully immersive experience may find themselves wanting more.
January 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this novel, it had a lot of heart. It focuses on emotions and feelings of belonging, family and loneliness which could be felt within the text and was executed very well. The characters were all really well rounded and I enjoyed all of the different points of view that were presented. The plot was interesting and it was well paced, I was constantly reading and wanting to know what was happening next and the writing style was easy to get into. The setting became very interesting when they reached the 'Hell' area and all of the sections were creative while also being quite recognisable as being this that have been associated with the biblical Hell that feature throughout media, like it being constructed in circles. Overall, really enjoyed it and as a YA it explored a lot.
August 17, 2024
This was a clever and fun read! It pulls you in right from the start and doesn't let go. I enjoyed all the snarky banter and the world building in Hell, especially the diner (that part made me laugh). I really liked Jenny and Luc's chemistry, but my favourite characters were the twins. They gave off a cool sort of creepy vibe (is that even a thing?), and tied up the story well. And even though the things Jenny had to go through in her life were difficult, the way this was written didnt feel too heavy. I'm definitely recommending this one!
August 27, 2024
Holy hell, this book is everything. I haven’t had the focus to finish a novel in a long time, but this one sunk its claws into me and I could NOT put it down.
It’s so rare to find a book that’s so deeply moving (yes I cried) while also being laugh out loud funny (yep, did that too!)
Jess Popplewell has talent oozing out her pores and I can’t wait to read what she serves up next!
It’s so rare to find a book that’s so deeply moving (yes I cried) while also being laugh out loud funny (yep, did that too!)
Jess Popplewell has talent oozing out her pores and I can’t wait to read what she serves up next!
September 19, 2024
The world building was good and I liked the secondary characters. I enjoyed the themes explored although wished the main characters interacted more to build chemistry (however their personal journeys built steadily). Could've done with less references to a 'front jean pocket' but the writing improved as the story went on.
August 18, 2024
3.5
Overall, I had a good time. The story was well written and well paced, and overall I liked all the characters. My only critics is that I thought that everything could have been more exploited and I wished I had seen the main characters interact a bit more. Solid read nonetheless.
Overall, I had a good time. The story was well written and well paced, and overall I liked all the characters. My only critics is that I thought that everything could have been more exploited and I wished I had seen the main characters interact a bit more. Solid read nonetheless.
October 13, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
A good beginner book to get a taste of the genre. It has a good pace to it and doesn't drag in places. Would have been good to have more connection between the two main characters, more conversation, and seeing their relationship grow.
A good beginner book to get a taste of the genre. It has a good pace to it and doesn't drag in places. Would have been good to have more connection between the two main characters, more conversation, and seeing their relationship grow.
February 24, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! It’s written with a lot of hints to York, which is where I’m from, so I loved that. I really enjoyed that the chapters were alternating from different peoples point of view. Couldn’t stop reading it! I hope there’s another in the pipe line!
May 22, 2025
I understand that it’s a young adult book but when it’s described as a romantasy then I’d expect a little more romance/ yearning or anything at this point. Otherwise a very good read just a bit disappointed with the romance side.
May 31, 2024
An exciting new author. I'm looking forward to following her promising career. A brilliant novel.
August 14, 2024
3.5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️!!
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